“Dark in Complexion”: The Indigenous War Graves Workers

Abstract

For many First Nations, or Indigenous people across the Dominions (including Australia) the First World War offered an occasion for them to demonstrate their resistance to cultural assimilation or segregation. Many expressed their desire to participate in order to attain equality through service and sacrifice. Many Indigenous elites and political organisations viewed war service as a tool to gain equality and respect within the broader spheres of Dominions politics and society. Careful scrutiny of the archival records has revealed that four Australian Aboriginal soldiers served as Australian war graves workers. They are Edward “Darkie” Smith from Queensland, William Charles Miller from Tasmania, George William Mitchell from Queensland and John Ogilvie from Western Australia.