May 1917 saw the lifting of restrictions for the enlistment of men who were of Aboriginal descent.
It is timely that 100 years on, the QANZAC team at the State Library of Queensland will this month begin to showcase stories and portraits of Queensland’s Aboriginal servicemen of the First World War. Through the HistoryPin platform you can view a collection of images chiefly sourced from the Queenslander Pictorial between 1914 and 1920.
James McBride, Harry Baker, Frank Fisher
Along with their portraits, are included brief biographical descriptions, links to their Service records and other relevant documentary evidence.
To date the State Library of Queensland has identified approx. 275 Indigenous servicemen who were associated with Queensland and of these have located 150 of their portraits.
Please contact us if you would like to add further to this collection, and help us identify even more Indigenous Anzacs.
Search the library catalogue for your soldier
More Information:
- View these portraits through the State Library of Queensland’s catalogue
- Australian War Memorial: Indigenous defence service
- Australian War Memorial: Aboriginal service during the First World War
- Read our World War 1 Centenary blogs
- Indigenous soldiers from Queensland Communities
- Resources for Researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in War
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