Our Indigenous Heroes - They Also Served
We have recently updated our records to include information on the Boer War, World War I, select World War II units, and the Torres Strait Infantry Battalions. During the next few months, we will be uploading Papua New Guinea Battalions before their Independence in 1975.
Additionally, the database features records of individuals who served in the Victorian Navy, including confirmed Aboriginal service member Thomas Bungalene, highlighted in our Stories section. While several others with similar descriptions remain unconfirmed as Aboriginal, their records are included in the hope that future verification will be possible. The database also features contributions from wartime workers, such as members of the Labour Corps and Hygiene Squads. Notably, figures like Dolly Gurinyi Batcho, who later advocated for Aboriginal land rights, are featured.
Our priority now is to address the remaining gaps in the online records. If you find minimal information about your veteran, we encourage you to use the "Tell Their Story” section on the menu bar and complete the form provided. This will enable us to prioritise the completion of individual service records and deliver updates efficiently. Or you can contact us through our email form.
Our dedicated volunteers are systematically reviewing each service record to supplement missing data—a process that requires considerable time and attention to detail. It is important to note that some historical registrations, particularly concerning Aboriginal births, marriages, and deaths from the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, may be incomplete due to past citizenship laws.
The names included in our database are sourced from reputable institutions such as the Australian War Memorial (AWM), National Archives of Australia (NAA), National Library of Australia (NLA), Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), Virtual War Memorial Australia (VWMA), as well as a range of documents and publications, all duly referenced on our website.
Our resources and acknowledgments section contains links for further research and information about library purchase options. The process of gathering these materials has taken over two years and is ongoing.
This project is committed to recognising all Indigenous servicemen and women, regardless of the duration of their service. Individuals who attempted to enlist are also acknowledged in our historical database.
We invite community members to share family stories about ancestral defence or wartime service to help document Indigenous contributions to Australia’s Defence Forces.
We would welcome new volunteers to support the continued success of this initiative, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you think you can spare a couple of hours from anywhere in Australia.
Keep Happy,
Zita – Team Leader
Our Indigenous Heroes - They Also Served National Project
