Enlistment of Aborigines - Cherbourg




National Archives of Australia, Darwin Office
Series B6681 214/1940
Enlistment of Aborigines - Cherbourg



Paul Mackett

Copyright P J Mackett, 2017



This eight page file contains the following letter from the Office of the
Director of Native Affairs Brisbane to Major Richardson, Brigade Major,
7th Brigade Area, Victoria Barracks, Brisbane. The letter is dated 30. 5.1940.

                In reference to telephonic communication concerning the enlistment of
several inmates of the Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement, Murton (sic), quoted hereunder
in lists (a) and (b) are the names and breed of the persons concerned. List (a)
it is understood from the superintendent of the Settlement shows the names of
five (5) men who have passed the requisite medical examination and have been
accepted as members of the 2nd AIF. List (b) shows the names of those who have
passed the first medical examination but whose applications for enlistment have
not yet been submitted :-

Name of Recruit                            Nationality of Parents
                                     Father                        Mother

List (a)

Frank Fisher                 H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Charlie Gee Hoy              Chinese                         H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Leslie Purcell               H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Jim Edwards                  H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Tom Bell                     H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal

List (b)

Bernard Turner               H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Bob Landers                  H.C. Australian Aboriginal      Full Blood
Tom Daniels                  H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Albert Prince                H.C. Australian Aboriginal      Full Blood
Henry Willis                 H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal
Joe Hegarty                  H.C. Australian Aboriginal      H.C. Australian Aboriginal

     Those in List (a) are halfblood aboriginals being of 50% European and
50% Aboriginal blood with one exception where there is 50% Chinese and 25%
Aboriginal and 25% European blood.

     In list (b) four are halfbloods 50% Aboriginals and 50% European blood
while two, Bob Landers and Albert Prince are threequarter caste aboriginals
showing a preponderance of aboriginal blood.

     Your advice after consideration of this information as to whether any
or all of these men are acceptable for enlistment in the 2nd AIF, would be
appreciated.


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