Veteran Story: George West (1890-1966) was born in Cunnamulla, western Queensland. He volunteered in November 1917, it was not his first attempt to enlist; he had previously been rejected on the basis of his heritage, being 'half caste'. After training at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera, he left Australia in March 1918 with the 30th Reinforcements for the 5th Light Horse Regiment, with a number of other known Indigenous soldiers, Fred Teare, Frank Balser and Sid Roberts. West contracted measles on the voyage and was hospitalised in Egypt before joining his regiment in the field in July 1918. At this time the regiment was conducting operations at Wadi Mellaha, Palestine and were shortly after engaged in the Battle of Abu Tellul, defending the Jordan Valley. After the armistice was signed in October, the Light Horse regiments were seconded to assist with the civilian unrest in Egypt, early in 1919. West was attached to the Luxor Relief Expedition for several weeks, before finally returning home in June 1919. George West was granted an exemption from the 'Aboriginals Protection and the Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 (Qld)' in 1920; at that time he was working in Emerald. This 'exemption' gave West the ability to live and work in the wider community, without the restrictions of living on an Aboriginal mission.
