What Are The Long Term Effects On Aboriginal Australia During Ww1

The most significant experiences that impacted Australian Indigenous people was the discrimination on a daily basis and the affect that fighting in World War 1 (1914-1918) had on them. World War 1, often referred to as the Great War, stands as one of the most climactic moments in history. Amongst the trenches, battles, and sacrifices — the contributions of the often-overlooked Indigenous Australians are a notable fact as to why the War was a success. The Indigenous Australians in WW1 were a community comprised of around 1,200 people (State Library of QLD). Within the Aboriginal community, their experiences serve as an attestation towards their determination, courage, and resilience in the face of their hardships. WW1’s long-term effects on

Initially the Indigenous people were excluded from enlisting – resulting in almost every person joining under fake ethnicity/cultural backgrounds, some even changing their names, age, and personal details to enlist (Centenary of World War 1). At the age of 30, Douglas Grant signed for the 34th battalion, AIF in 1916 however, he was discharged at his battalion as government approval was required for Indigenous Australians (State Library NSW). Grant struggled to find his place in the War so much that he said “No I’m not wanted anymore … I think I’m better out here … I’ve lived long enough to see that I don’t belong anywhere, and they don’t want me.” (Douglas Grant Australian War Memorial). This reliable primary source written by an Australian jurist, shows that Indigenous people especially Grant, didn’t feel like they were respected enough during World War 1. The source is useful in showing that Douglas Grant was prepared to die because he and all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander felt like they weren’t being treated as equal individuals. Discrimination against Indigenous communities was faced on a daily basis during the War and even continued to when it ended, showing how disrespected and disregarded Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

In the beginning racist regulations prevented any Indigenous person from joining the AIF but was soon relaxed in 1917 as the British Empire required reinforcements. Indigenous Australians didn’t necessarily overcome discrimination towards them, but rather ignored how they were being treated. Approximately 1,200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women volunteered for the army in WW1 (State Library of QLD). This was a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were not considered as an Australian citizen and suffered under the strict policies of discrimination (State Library of QLD). Initially soldiers were only considered for the force if they were ‘white enough’ (State Library NSW). During the War, Indigenous Australians served on equal terms with non-Indigenous Australians but after the War, areas such as education, employment and the discrimination that continued well after the War (Australian War Memorial). James Charles Martin, born in 1901, was eager to enlist in the AIF (Australian Imperial Force) after his father had been rejected from service (Australian War Memorial). By faking his age, Martin succeeded in joining the force at the age of 14 years and 3 months. Although his efforts were successful in joining the war, he contracted typhoid fever in 1915, dying 2 hours later due to heart failure, just 3 months shy of his 15th