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Aboriginal men and women finally recognised in Griffith
by Alison Johnstone 6 May 2014
T
heir skin was considered too dark for the light horse, but now more than a century later, Aboriginal men and women were finally recognised on Anzac Day in Griffith. Thanks to the work of passionate locals Alison Johnstone, Theo Bollen, Roger Penrith and Aunty Heather Edwards, this year for the first time, Aboriginal soldiers were acknowledged. Ms Johnstone’s great grandfather William Williams served with the 45th Infantry Battalion in WWI and became a prisoner of war in France. It was there he discovered that bullets don’t discriminate and was sent home injured to tell his story. He received three medals for
Above: Bob, Ted and Kit Harris and another brother fought for Australia in WWII. Only three returned home and they soon found that nothing had changed, receiving the same treatment their uncle had years before.Ted made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and is buried in Papua New Guinea.
service but was never shown the same respect as his white comrades and was not allowed to march. “For so many of these Indigenous men and women joining the war effort was a chance to show their patriotism and be treated as equals,” Ms Johnstone said. “But upon return from war they were not classified as citizens under the flora and fauna act. “They were not eligible to vote but they were able to die. “They were denied veterans pensions and the right to march up until 2006.”
William Williams, known as Cobar, was a prisoner of War in Albert, France and lived to come home to tell his story.
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Indigenous Australians have served in every war Australia has been involved in, from the Boer War in South Africa at Federation to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is estimated about 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders served in World War I and more than 3000 in World War II. Private Williams’s nephews Bob, Ted and Kit Harris and another brother fought for Australia in WWII. Of the four brothers, only three returned home and they soon found that nothing had changed, receiving the same treatment their uncle had years before. Ted made the ultimate sacrifice for his country and is buried in Papua New Guinea. During Griffith’s Anzac Day ceremony proud descendants of William Williams and Ted Harris laid wreaths in their honour. Ms Johnstone’s role as curriculum consultant for the Education Department is to encourage teachers to research and use resources that have been developed to teach the next generation. “There is a history that needs to be told,” she said. “Finally and thankfully it’s in our history syllabus. “We have come full circle because now the government has been made aware of the sacrifice and commitment Indigenous people made to this country. “It’s an exciting and honourable time because finally the contribution of Indigenous men and women is being recognised. “It was a very emotional moment for our family on Anzac Day. “I’m glad that the RSL is now working together positively to include Aboriginal soldiers.”
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William Williams’ Grandson Keith Williams who laid the wreath