Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service

Until recently, few Australians were aware that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people served in the First World War. Over 1,000 enlisted, and almost 300 of them were Queenslanders.

Black Diggers Webinar
Explore the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experience of WW1 with Indigenous Languages Coordinator Des Crump.

Harry Doyle and Albert Burke Photograph 1917

Harry Doyle and Albert Burke in the First World War.

The State Library collection contains stories and references to the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the First World War, both at home in Queensland and serving overseas.

Soldier portraits

Many Queensland soldiers of the First World War had their portrait taken at the Enoggera army camp, and then published in pictorial supplement of The Queenslander newspaper. View the soldier portraits of some of Queensland’s Aboriginal servicemen of the First World War.

V. Hare one of the soldiers photographed in The Queenslander Pictorial supplement to The Queenslander 1917.

A.J. Blackmann one of the soldiers photographed in The Queenslander Pictorial supplement to The Queenslander 1917.

H. Harper one of the soldiers photographed in The Queenslander Pictorial supplement to The Queenslander 1917.