Returning a First Nations WWI Hero Home — Yaluu (See You Again) | Compass

Key Concepts

• Aboriginal Soldiers in WWI: Indigenous Australians who enlisted despite systemic discrimination and legal barriers.
• Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): A high-level military decoration for gallantry in the field, awarded to William Alan Irwin.
• Victoria Cross (VC): The highest military decoration for valor; the narrative argues it was denied to Aboriginal soldiers due to racial prejudice.
• The Western Front: The primary theater of war in France where Australian forces, including the 33rd Battalion, fought.
• Aboriginal Protection Board: A government body that controlled the lives of Indigenous people on missions, restricting their movement and autonomy.
• Commemoration and Recognition: The ongoing effort to document and honor the contributions of Indigenous soldiers who were historically excluded from official war records.

1. Historical Context and Personal Journey

Peter Milikin, a Gumaroy man, travels to France to honor his great uncle, William Alan Irwin (born William Alan Allan). William was a "gun shearer" from a family living on a mission in New South Wales. Despite the Australian Defense Act of the time discouraging or prohibiting Aboriginal enlistment, William changed his name to "Irwin" to join the Australian Imperial Force. His brother, Harry, attempted to stop him by riding three days on horseback to reach the port, but he arrived too late to see William before the ship departed.

2. Military Service and Heroism

William Alan Irwin served with the 33rd Battalion. On August 31, 1918, during a critical engagement, he performed an act of extraordinary bravery:

• The Action: He single-handedly neutralized three machine gun posts and captured 15–20 enemy soldiers.
• The Sacrifice: He was mortally wounded while attempting to take out a fourth machine gun post.
• The Impact: Military experts noted that during that three-day period, Australian forces suffered 3,000 casualties; Irwin’s actions likely prevented that number from being significantly higher.
• Recognition: He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM). However, the family’s original medal was confiscated by a mission manager and never returned, forcing the family to purchase replicas years later.

3. Systemic Discrimination and Erasure

The narrative highlights a pattern of institutionalized racism:

• Post-War Treatment: Aboriginal veterans like Mick Flick (Joe Flick’s father) were denied entry to RSL clubs and treated as second-class citizens upon returning home, despite having fought alongside white soldiers who considered them "mates" in the trenches.
• Historical Erasure: William’s name and photo were absent from traveling exhibitions and historical books (e.g., The Great War by Les Carlyon). Peter Milikin argues that William was denied a Victoria Cross—which he clearly earned through his actions—specifically because the military establishment did not want to acknowledge an Aboriginal man as a national hero.

4. International Commemoration

The video contrasts the lack of recognition in Australia with the deep respect shown by the French people in Villers-Bretonneux:

• French Gratitude: Local residents, such as Marip, express profound gratitude for the Australian soldiers who liberated their village, which was 80% destroyed during the war.
• Community Awareness: Joe Flick, who has visited France for over a decade, has been instrumental in educating the French public about the presence and sacrifice of Aboriginal soldiers.
• Spiritual Connection: Peter Milikin describes the act of visiting his great uncle’s grave as a "spiritual experience," using traditional Gumaroy language to pay respects to his ancestor.

5. Synthesis and Conclusion

The video serves as both a personal tribute and a call to action. The main takeaways are:

• Widespread Participation: Nearly 1,200 Aboriginal men and one woman served in WWI, often volunteering for a country that did not grant them full rights.
• The Fight for Recognition: There is a persistent campaign to secure the Victoria Cross for William Alan Irwin, with his descendants arguing that his actions were objectively more heroic than many who received the award.
• Legacy: The journey emphasizes the importance of educating younger generations about the hidden history of Indigenous service, ensuring that these soldiers are no longer "forgotten" and that their contributions to Australian history are fully acknowledged.

Notable Quote: "I think I want to tell them he was a hero. He saved the lives of many men. Not one, not two, hundreds. I'll stay with this until we get the VC. His time's coming." — Peter Milikin.