Extract from Service Record for Harry Sherridan, Depot Battalion
Indigenous Australian, Harry SHERIDAN, Depot Company
Harry Sheridan / Sherridan also known as Henry Alpha, was born at Alpha in 1882. Keen to join the first AIF he travelled to Charleville to volunteer his services in July 1917.
Aged 36 and an experienced horseman, he would have been a valuable asset to any of the Light Horse Regiments serving in the Middle East, but the authorities were reluctant to accept his offer.
Harry Sheridan was an Aboriginal and without any white/European heritage, the medical examiners denied his enlistment. Harry was formerly discharged in September 1917. He returned to western Queensland and his resumed employment on the pastoral station Listowel Downs, south of Blackall.
Two years later an influenza epidemic raged through Queensland, thought most likely to have been fuelled by the increased movement of men returning from overseas after the war. The epidemic killed over 800, primarily young adults, including 69 residents of the Barambah Aboriginal Settlement.
Three aboriginal workers at Listowel Downs died in 1919 including Harry Sheridan on the last day of May 1919.
Read more ...
- Service record: SHERRIDAN, Harry
- 'Quiet at Toowoomba'. The Telegraph, 13 June 1919 p2
- Aboriginal Deaths 1910-1928
- One of the soldiers featured in SLQ’s HistoryPin Collection
Watch ...
- Queensland’s Indigenous Servicemen [mp4, 12 mins]
The information in this blog post has been researched by State Library staff and volunteers, it is based on available information at this time. If you have more information that you would like to share or further research uncovers new findings, this post will be updated.
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