A new play called Black Diggers sheds light on a neglected part of Australian history. Here are some of the true stories behind it.
Black Diggers, a play written by Tom Wright and directed by Wesley Enoch, premieres at the Sydney Festival on January 18.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that the following contains images of deceased persons.
It seeks to highlight the untold story of the Indigenous Australians who served in the armed forces during the First World War.
An unidentified Indigenous soldier.
Australian War Memorial / Via awm.gov.au
It's estimated that approximately 1,000 Indigenous soldiers fought in World War I.
An Aboriginal soldier (front row, centre) with fellow members of the 3rd Tunnelling Company, AIF, in France in 1917.
Australian War Memorial / Via awm.gov.au
This was at a time when Indigenous people weren’t even considered Australian citizens. They weren’t counted in the census and most couldn’t vote.
Private Leonard Charles Lovett, a drover who enlisted and served with the 39th Battalion of the AIF.
Australian War Memorial / Via awm.gov.au
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