Veteran Story: The Alley family is justifiably proud of its service:
But despite their record, until 1983 Charlie’s family as Aboriginal people in Queensland still lived under the Act – the dehumanising Protection Act which dominated Aboriginal people’s lives. Records show some members of the Alley family at Palm Island – the artificial Aboriginal community formed from forced removals from the mainland by the Queensland government.
The Alley family’s contribution of service beginning with World War One is remarkable – however it is not unusual for Indigenous families to give generously to the service of their country, despite the treatment they and their extended families received.
This history is now coming to light and following the completion of Serving Our Country, a project which ixplored the contribution to Australian defence services of Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples, stories like those of the Alley family will at last receive the recognition they deserve.
Charlie Alley was born in 1901 in Charters Towers, Queensland. His father, Charles, came from the Malay Straits and his mother, Fanny Palmer, was born at Canobie station. During World War One, Charlie’s father managed the stockyard for horses sent to Egypt.
Charlie, though underage, volunteered for the AIF in 1917 at just 16, serving with the 11th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt and Palestine. The regiment's notable actions included cavalry charges and suppressing the Egyptian revolt in 1919. Charlie returned home in August 1919 as a battle-hardened veteran at age 18 and later served in World War Two.
Many Aboriginal men, including at least seven Queenslanders, served with Charlie as 1st Reinforcements Egypt, joining others in the 11th Light Horse, known as the Queensland Black Watch due to its high number of Aboriginal soldiers.
Charlie’s siblings also served: Billy in WWII, Martha in the Women’s Land Army, and Albert in the Civil Construction Corps. Nephews David and Harry Allie served in Vietnam and the RAAF, respectively; Harry became the first Air Force Indigenous Elder in 2012.
Despite their service, the Alley family lived under oppressive laws until 1983, with some members relocated to Palm Island by the Queensland government.
The Alley family's long record of military service reflects the significant contributions of Indigenous Australians, now being recognised through projects like Serving Our Country.
The Oasis Townsville named their PeeWee Hut No 3 after Charles in 2023-AS follows: Indigenous Australian Army Soldier Recognised For WWII Service - Wednesday 24 May 2023. It is with great honour that The Oasis Townsville names their PeeWee Hut 3, after Mr Charles Alley, an Indigenous Australian Army soldier who served in World War I (WWI) and World War II (WWII).
The Chair of The Oasis Townsville LTGEN John Caligari, AO, DSC (Ret’d) said it is important to connect the Townsville Homebase for the Veteran Community to the men and women who served in WWII by naming our Huts after them. Mr Charles Alley has left an incredible legacy behind, inspiring 13 family members to follow in his footsteps and serve in the Australian Defence Force.
“The Oasis was the location of the 13 Australian Personnel Staging Camp (13 APSC) through which servicemen and women who served in the Southwest Pacific in WWII were demobilised. Mr Caligari stated that what The Oasis Townsville does today is very similar to that service provided to WWII servicemen and women and so our WWII heritage is prized.
Mr Charles Alley served in both WWI and WWII in the Australian Army. He was 16 years of age upon signing up for WWI and 38 years old for WWII. His age was clearly no deterrent to serving his country in the Australian Army. Mr Brian Johnson, Grandson of the late Mr Alley said that our entire family is just absolutely blown away that Grandad has been acknowledged and is receiving such an honour. He joined the Defence Force and did what he needed to do for his country.
“Grandad loved his job and wanted to help his mates and help his country. We have had 13 family members become Australian Defence Force members since Grandad enlisted, and a nephew is about to enlist in the Navy in July this year, Mr Johnson said. “With our heritage from the demobilising efforts of 13 Australian Personnel Staging Camp Oonoonba in WWII, it is our intent to name all huts after local WWII Veterans, Mr Caligari said”
The Hut Naming Ceremony took place on Wednesday, 24 May 2023 at The Oasis Townsville, Hut 3 with Mr Charles Alley’s relatives.
©2019 by The Oasis Townsville.
Please Note: WWI and WWII records are entered separately for each individual. In both conflicts men were given more than one number and as they transitioned to Active Service they were given the second number. In WWII, the first number prefixed by the letter of the State (Q1111-Qld) in which they enlisted was their entry into the Citizens Military Forces (CMF). As they were accepted into fulltime service they were given and addition alpha letter of X (QX1111-Qld).
