Veteran Story: William 'Willie' Pagel (1899-1968) was born to William Charles (Charlie) Louis Pagel and Helena (Ellen, Nellie) Wilson and lived among the fishing community at Dudgeon Creek, Mackay for many years. In 1917 Willie, his brother Fred and sister Nellie were removed from their family and placed on the Aboriginal Mission at Barambah, now known as Cherbourg. Willie was among 17 Aboriginal men who were recruited during an 'extraordinary' drive by the Queensland Recruiting Committee on 14 May 1917, known as "Empty Saddles". The committee, represented by Reverend David Garland and the Chief Protector of Aborigines, John William Bleakley signed their attestation papers and arranged for them to travel to the training base at Enoggera. On 25 May 1917 these recruits were paraded during a rally in Queen Street, Brisbane where they were encouraged to mount riderless horses as a show of their commitment. They were discharged 30 days later on 13 June 1917, for “having been irregularly enlisted” and returned to the mission under escort, with out any receipt of payment or discharge documents. Without an exemption from the Queensland Protection of Aboriginals Act, Willie was unable to go out into the wider community to work. He was removed to Palm Island in 1926 as was his sister Nellie in 1936 but eventually received exemption in 1934 and Nellie in 1946. Two of Willie’s brothers George and Edward served in New Guinea during the Second World War. Willie Pagel died in 1968 in South Brisbane.
