Indigenous Australians in World War I: Service, Sacrifice and Hidden History

Since the 1860s, thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have served in the Australian Defence Force, including over 1,000 in the First World War. Despite facing discrimination and exclusion, many Indigenous Australians answered the call to defend their country, hiding their racial identity to enlist. Their contributions have been largely erased from mainstream media narratives, but recent documentaries, short films, and collaborations aim to bring these stories to light. Indigenous servicemen and women risked their lives for their country and deserve to have their stories heard and recognized.

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