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y separately published work icon Fighters from the Fringe : Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Recall the Second World War selected work   interview   war literature  
Issue Details: First known date: 1995... 1995 Fighters from the Fringe : Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders Recall the Second World War
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

This book reveals the 'experiences of six Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who served their country during the Second World War. Oodgeroo Noonuccal was a wireless operator whose brothers were prisoners of war. Reg Saunders served in Greece and New Guinea, as the first Aboriginal officer in the Australian Army, and later in Korea. Leonard Waters trained and served as the first Aboriginal fighter pilot. Charles Mene, a Torres Strait Islander, served throughout the war and was awarded the Military Medal in the Korean War. Saulo Waia, a pearl fisher, defended the Strait with fellow soldiers while non-Indigenous people were evacuated. Other Islanders like Tom Lowah gave years of service and received lower pay than white servicemen.' (Source: LibrariesAustralia)

Exhibitions

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Notes

  • Author's note: 'I had interviewed a number of Aboriginal and Islander ex-servicemen and women during my research for [my previous book] The Black Diggers and these taped interviews presented the ideal opportunity to have these black diggers describe their military service in their own words.

    I have selected six interviews which reveal the range of Aboriginal and Islander experiences of military service in the war...In presenting these stories here, I have provided a brief review of the history of the Aboriginal and Islander involvement in the Second World War so that the stories can be seen in context. I have provided explanatory comments when I felt these were required but, as far as possible, I have left their stories exactly as they were told to me. Some rearrangement of blocks of text, to fit wide-ranging conversations into a proper chronological order, has been necessary, and occasional military jargon has been explained. But otherwise the following chapters recall the memories of these fighters from the fringe in their own words.' (Source: Preface)

  • Contents indexed selectively.

Contents

* Contents derived from the Canberra, Australian Capital Territory,:Aboriginal Studies Press , 1995 version. Please note that other versions/publications may contain different contents. See the Publication Details.
Reg Saunders : Leader in Two Wars, Robert A. Hall (interviewer), single work interview (p. 61-89)
Charles Mene : Warrior on the Move, Robert A. Hall (interviewer), single work interview (p. 91-109)
Oodgeroo Noonuccal : Wireless Operator, Robert A. Hall (interviewer), single work interview (p. 111-133)
Saulo Waia : Pearl Diver Turned Soldier, Robert A. Hall (interviewer), single work interview (p. 135-153)
Leonard Waters : Fighter Pilot - Black Magic, Robert A. Hall (interviewer), single work interview (p. 155-172)
Tom Lowah : Islander Non-Commissioned Officer, Robert A. Hall (interviewer), single work interview (p. 173-191)
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Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • Canberra, Australian Capital Territory,: Aboriginal Studies Press , 1995 .
      image of person or book cover 4375446843761720791.png
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: viii, 218p.p.
      Description: illus., ports
      Note/s:
      • Preface by Robert A. Hall.
      • Includes bibliography and index.
      ISBN: 0855752866 (pbk), 9780855752866 (pbk)
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Other Formats

  • Also e-book.
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Works about this Work

Introduction : Diversifying the Black Diggers' Histories Noah Riseman , 2015 single work criticism
— Appears in: Aboriginal History , December vol. 39 no. 2015; (p. 137-142) The author talks about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' experiences of war.
The Rise of Indigenous Military History Noah Riseman , 2014 single work criticism
— Appears in: History Compass , vol. 12 no. 2 2014;

'This article examines the historiography of 20th century Indigenous military service in the Anglo‐settler societies Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. It traces the emergence of ‘positive’ national narratives of Indigenous military service in the 1980s and 1990s, through to the diversification of Indigenous histories and the current shifts towards transnational and comparative analyses. The historiographic shifts have aligned with political changes within the respective nations, as well as changes in academic practice relating to Indigenous histories.' (Publication abstract)
Introduction : Diversifying the Black Diggers' Histories Noah Riseman , 2015 single work criticism
— Appears in: Aboriginal History , December vol. 39 no. 2015; (p. 137-142) The author talks about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' experiences of war.
The Rise of Indigenous Military History Noah Riseman , 2014 single work criticism
— Appears in: History Compass , vol. 12 no. 2 2014;

'This article examines the historiography of 20th century Indigenous military service in the Anglo‐settler societies Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. It traces the emergence of ‘positive’ national narratives of Indigenous military service in the 1980s and 1990s, through to the diversification of Indigenous histories and the current shifts towards transnational and comparative analyses. The historiographic shifts have aligned with political changes within the respective nations, as well as changes in academic practice relating to Indigenous histories.' (Publication abstract)
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Last amended 1 Dec 2014 15:18:02
Subjects:
  • 1939-1945
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