COLLECTIONS RELATING TO INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AT WAR |
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
FILMS
Accession Number: F01167
Title: Bennett visits hospital
Summary: Major-General H. Gordon Bennett, CB, CMG, DSO, VD, visits hospital, Singapore. He talks to patients.
Patients receive treatment. Scene of an Australian Aboriginal soldier in a hospital bed.
Running Time: 1 minute
Sound: Silent
Copyright: Crown
Conflict: World War Two
Accession Number: F04051
Title: Interview with Harold Stewart (When the War came to Australia documentary)
Summary: Mr Harold Stewart enlisted as an 18 year old in Warwick Queensland. He joined because
his mates were joining the Army. Aborigines were not conscripted. As an Aborigine, he didn't
experience any discrimination when he joined. In combat situations, there was no prejudice,
when in camp he was made to feel "inferior" to some degree. He recounts episodes of prejudice
in civilian life, for example going to church in Warwick. Aborigines were grouped together as a
drunk and untrustworthy race, which was a gross generalisation. He was trained as an artillery
gunner and sent to Magnetic Island, Queensland. He mentions the American troops'relations
between black and white servicemen - they had divided camps between Negroes and whites,
they didn't mix and there was tension and even killings. Mr Stewart had two good friends who
would stand up for him. Mr Stewart sketches army life for the enlisted soldier - paid equivalent
to 75c per day, when you ran out of money you would wash socks, towels, trousers etc.
Aborigines helped the coastwatchers and the troops in the Northern Territory. One Aborigine,
Reginald Saunders, became a Captain. If you had the ability and were Aboriginal, you made it.
Saunders made it on merit, no favouritism. Mr Stewart was a member of the RSL, as he was
a non-drinker. Attitudes to Aborigines weren't changed during the war as there were so few,
eg 3/1100 in Mr Stewart's unit - too few to influence opinion. Mr Stewart benefitted a great
deal from the Army self discipline, conduct, cleanliness etc. He thinks compulsory national
service-not military - would be beneficial. He received post-war support as an ex-serviceman
in getting a job and a house. He describes an argument he had with the Drill Sergeant,
Bull Bennetts. The Army discipline could be sadistic and there was no love lost between the soldiers and
the Army.
Dates: 21 February 1991
Sound: Yes
Copyright: Film Finance Corporation
Conflict: World War Two
Accession Number: F00568
Title: Red Cross Train brings Darwin wounded - Aboriginal children refugees from bombs. . .(Cinesound review No.542)
Summary: Aboriginal children refugees from bombs - Children from the Melville Island Mission School arrive in Melbourne after
their evacuation from the North.
Dates: 20 March 1942
Running Time: 7 minutes
Sound: Yes
Copyright: Expired 1993
Conflict: World War Two
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Accession Number: PR00308
Collection Name: Waters, Leonard Victor (Warrant Officer, b.1924, d.1993)
Description: Flying Log-book, ITS training notebook, service certificates of Len Waters, the only known Aboriginal fighter
pilot in the RAAF during the war of 1939-1945. Logbook details training and active service flying Kittyhawks,
with more detailed than usual comments on operational flights (see also Sound; Military Heraldry).
Quantity: 9 items
Access: Open
Copying Rules: Copying is permitted
Conflict: World War Two
Accession Number: PR91/163
Collection Name: Fisher, Cecil (b.1933)
Description: Poem 'Black Anzac', written in commemoration of all Aboriginal servicemen who have fought for Australia.
Letter listing Aboriginal and Islander soldiers. Autobiographical letter describing experiences before,
during and after active service in Korea.
Quantity: 3 Items
Access: Open
Copying Rules: Copying is permitted
Conflict: World War Two.
Accession Number: MSS1463
Collection Name: (1) Brennand, Henry (2) Kingsford-Smith, Eric
Description: Thesis "The relationship between Aborigines, Islanders and the Armed Forces in the Second World War".
Examines the attitude of the services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enlistment, the role of these
groups in the war effort and the longer term effects of enlistment. Chapters cover the enlistment of Aborigines
and Islanders, The Torres Strait Defence Force, the experience of enlisted service, Aboriginal de facto
servicemen, Army labourers in the Northern Territory, employment of mission and other isolated Aborigines
and Aborigines as a security threat. PhD, University of NSW (ADFA), 1987. See also Mss1175.
Copying Rules: Contact the AWM Research Centre
Conflict: World War Two
Accession Number: MSS1200
Collection Name: Hall, Major Robert (Bob)
Description: Thesis - "The relationship between Aborigines, Islanders and the Armed Forces in the Second World War".
Examines the attitude of the services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enlistment, the role of these groups
in the war effort and the longer term effects of enlistment. Chapters cover the enlistment of aborigines and islanders,
The Torres Strait Defence Force, the experience of enlisted service, aboriginal de facto servicemen, Army labourers
in the Northern Territory, employment of mission and other isolated aborigines and aborigines as a security threat.
PhD, University of NSW (ADFA), 1987. See also Mss1175.
Quantity: 1 volume
Copying Rules: COPYING IS NOT PERMITTED
Conflict: World War Two.
SOUND
Accession Number: S00520
Interviewee: Reg Saunders
Interviewer: Dr Peter Read
Title: Reg Saunders, Aboriginal serviceman 2/7th Battalion, interviewed by Peter Read for the Keith Murdoch
Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45.
Recording Date: 13 January 1989
Summary: Discusses education; employment; religion; enlistment; aborigines in WW2; 2/7th Battalion; training;
mateship; leave; racism; desert operations; disease; air raids; discipline; rations; AIF Greek relations;
promotion; jungle operations; Returned Services League (RSL); Mentions Victoria; Bardia, Middle East;
Greece; Crete, Salamaua, Papua New Guinea; Korea.
Duration: 3 Hours 2 minutes 40 seconds
Copyright: AWM
Assoc.Documtation: transcripts
Accession Number: S00519
Interviewee: R.A.J. (Bob) Bloomfield
Interviewer: Dr Peter Read
Title: R A J (Bob) Bloomfield, Aboriginal serviceman 2/4th Field Regiment, interviewed by Dr Peter Read
for the Keith Murdoch Sound Archive of Australia in the War of 1939-45
Recording Date: 12 December 1988
Summary: Discusses education; employment; conscription; racial issues; Aborigines; leave; discipline; embarkation;
army; 2/4th Field Regiment; Militia American relations; friendly fire incident; jungle operations; Japanese
prisoners of war (POWs); casualties; relations with native carriers; ANGAU; Returned Services League (RSL);
mateship. Mentions Aitape, Papua New Guinea; New Ireland, Rabaul
Duration: 3 Hours
Copyright: AWM
Assoc.documents: transcripts
Accession Number: S01652
Interviewee: Len Waters
Title: Len Waters, 78 Squadron RAAF pilot and the only Aboriginal fighter pilot to serve with the RAAF during
the War of 1939 - 45 Interviewed by Ken Llewellyn
Conflict: World War Two
Recording Date: 12 June 1993
Duration: 1 Hour 50 minutes
Accession Number:
Accession Number: S01150
Interviewee: R A J (Bob) Bloomfield Interviewer: David Huggonson
Title: Aboriginal Serviceman: R A J (Bob) Bloomfield, ex ANGAU and 2/2 Field Regiment, interviewed by David Huggonson.
Conflict: 1939-1945
Subject: Aborigines; New Guinea; 2/2 Field Regiment; Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit Recording
Date: 15 Feb 1993
Summary: Early Life; Parents; Discrimination; First job; Other work; Enlisting in AIF; Joining artillery; Sent to New Guinea; Operations in New Guinea; End of war; Serving with ANGAU.; Demobilisation; Occupation after leaving army; Australian Rules Football; Being Aboriginal. Duration: 49 Minutes
Copyright: Daughter, Ms A Bloomfield, 34 Bonney Street, Ainslie ACT 2602
Associated Documentation: transcripts