Veteran Story: Harry Doyle (1897-1961) was working as a labourer at Behana Siding, south of Gordonvale when he enlisted in 1917. After training at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera he was alloted to the 11th Light Horse regiment and left Australia in December with the 20th Reinforcements. Doyle was in the company of a number of other Indigenous recruits including William Brown, Jack Costello, Frank Fischer, John Geary, James Lingwoodock, Harry Murray, David Molly, James McBride, William Nicholld, Jack Oliffe, Charlie Parkes, Edward Smith, Leslie Wogas etc. These reinforcements became known as the 'Queensland Black Watch' as all but three of the unit were of Aboriginal heritage. Doyle and the others joined the regiment at Belah, Palestine where they undertook long range patrols, and were later involved in actions in the Jordan Valley, Es Salt, and the battle of Samakh. Doyle returned home in 1919, was exempted from the Protection Act and worked in the Cairns area until he retired to the returned servicemens accomodation 'Warhaven' where he died in 1967.
