BBORIGMES BAD ThE BBHYTHE SECOND WORLD WAR EXPERIENCEMajor R. A. HallRo\al <strong>Australian</strong> In Ian tryTHE relationship between the Army and theAborigines and Torres Strait Islanders hasbeen a long one beginning at least as early as theFirst World War. 1 It was during the SecondWorld War however that relatively largenumbers of Aborigines and Islanders wereenlisted or developed other forms ofassociation with the Army, during a periodwhen white relations with Aborigines andIslanders were largely characterised by racismand brutality.The relationship which emerged from thisassociation is of interest to the Army today inview of our continued interest in northerndefence and surveillance, Australia's growingcultural diversity, and the unfortunate fact thatracism continues to exist in today's Army. 2During the Second World War, twodocuments laid down the criteria for enlistmentinto the <strong>Australian</strong> Army, the <strong>Defence</strong> Act and<strong>Australian</strong> Military Regulations and Orders.The <strong>Defence</strong> Act placed no limitations uponthe racial origins of voluntary enlistees butrequired that all personnel take an oath ofallegiance, thereby restricting enlistment toBritish subjects. Torres Strait Islanders andAborigines were British subjects and thereforewere not excluded from voluntary enlistment bythe Act. Persons not substantially of Europeanorigin or descent were, however, exemptedfrom call-up for war service under section61(l)(h) of the <strong>Defence</strong> Act, and fromcompulsory training under section 138( 1 )(b).Contrary to the <strong>Defence</strong> Act, <strong>Australian</strong>Military Regulations and Orders No. 177 statedthat only persons who were "substantially ofEuropean origin or descent" were to be enlistedvoluntarily. This did not affect the legalpredominance of the <strong>Defence</strong> Act, however,Major Hall graduated from RMC in 1968. He served as aplatoon commander in 8 RAR and then in a variety ofappointments includiang I PIR, ~ PIR, HQ I Div. andDCAD (Army). His current posting is with ManagementAdvisory Services Branch, <strong>Defence</strong> Central.A rticle rcceii ed Feb. <strong>1980</strong>.and could be varied or waived to suit therequirements of Land Headquarters. 3As the war progressed, the threat to thesecurity of Australia increased, causing greaterdemands for Army manpower. As a result, theArmy manipulated the discriminatory sectionof the <strong>Australian</strong> Military Regulations andOrders to allow the enlistment of someappropriately qualified Aborigines and TorresStrait Islanders.As early as <strong>Sep</strong>tember 1939, and contrary to<strong>Australian</strong> Military Regulations and Orders,Aborigines were to be enlisted into the Army,though in small numbers. The then Minister for<strong>Defence</strong>, Mr. G. A Street, had authorised theCommandant 7th Military District to beginenlistment of a limited number of selected part-Aborigines into units stationed in the NorthernTerritory. 4 The Darwin Infantry Battalion, forexample, had its own small contingent ofAboriginal servicemen. 5Despite these and other isolated caseshowever, while hostilities remained centered inEurope, the Army showed little enthusiasm forAboriginal volunteers. 6In response to an increasing number ofrequests by part-Aborigines and full-bloods toenlist, and confusion created by the fact thatsome Aborigines were already serving contraryto the previous orders, Military commandssought clarification of the policy on enlistmentof Aborigines and other non-Europeans. On 6May 1940 a Military Board Memo was issuedstating that the enlistment of persons of non-European origin or descent was "neithernecessary nor desirable" 7 As Aborigines beganto be turned away from the recruiting officesthroughout Australia, various agencies such asthe Queensland Department of Native Affairsand the Aborigines Uplift Society took up theissue of Aboriginal enlistment. Their maingrievances centered round the inconsistency ofArmy policy.As a result of pressure applied by theseagencies, the matter of Aboriginal enlistmentwas reconsidered by the Military Board and itsdecision, promulagated on 13 August 1940, wasthat:
ABORIGINES AND THE ARMY 29A squad of Torres St rait Light Infantry Battalion training in their company lines, Thursday Island.
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