Veteran Story: John 'Jack' Norman was born in Croydon, north Queensland and was employed by Martin Wessell on a cane farm, prior to enlisting in August 1918. Norman left Brisbane on board HMAT 'Malta' in October with several other Indigenous men assigned to the 6th General Reinforcements, bound for Egypt - including Charlie Smith, Albert Jones, Bob Roberts and Martin Blyth. They arrived in the Suez ten days after the armistice in Europe had been declared but Norman was assigned to an engineering group known as D Field Troop and Bridging Train. Norman was among 15 reinforcements that joined this troop on Christmas Day 1918 while they were encamped at Richon, Syria, later moving to Bir Salem. Norman was absorbed into 1st Field Squadron Engineers, where they were employed maintaining services and infrastructure for the remaining troops. Norman was granted exemption from the 'Aborigines Protection Act' on his return, and eventually relocated to New South Wales, he died in 1972 age 78 at Brewarrina.
