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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

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  5. Amendment to Military Orders allowing 'half-castes' to enlist

Amendment to Military Orders allowing 'half-castes' to enlist

A change to the Defence Act 1909 so that 'half-castes' can enlist.

Details

Learning resource record

Creator:

Military Board (also known as Military Board of Administration)

Date:

1917

Citation:

MP390/10, 1917 PART 1

Keywords:

  • First Australians
  • military service
  • law

Transcript

811

[Header] [Military Orders 200 and 201 of 1917.

[dividing line.]

 

[Heading:] AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

[In margin, marked:] M.O. 200 1917.

[Subheading:] (1) PROVISIONAL ALLOTMENT OF TROOPS TO TRANSPORTS.

Table showing 32nd Provisional Allotment of Troops to Transports, Part I, has been issued to all concerned.

[dividing line.]

 

[Subheading:] (2) ENLISTMENT OF HALF-CASTES.

[In margin, marked:] Circular 113 1917.

Half-castes may be enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force provided that the examining Medical Officers are satisfied that one of the parents is of European origin.

NOTE. – All previous instructions on this subject are cancelled

[dividing line.]

 

[Heading:] RANK OF OFFICERS ON RETURN FRO [sic] ACTIVE SERVICE.

[In margin, marked:] M.O. 201 1917.

In connexion with the rank of officers on return from Active Service (M.O. 113 of 1916), Commandants will, when submitting recommendations for termination of appointments of officers of the Australian Imperial Force, attach to their recommendations a statement showing the Corps, if any, of the Australian Military Forces in which each officer is serving and the rank held in such Corps by the officer concerned. Care is to be taken to include Trainees who are exempt from training by reason of residing in exempt areas, &c.

About this record

Previously the Defence Act 1909 had stated that persons who were 'not substantially of European origin or descent' were barred from enlisting. In 1917, military orders allowed 'half-castes' to enlist if they had one parent of European origin.

Related themes

Theme

A ward for the totally and permanently incapacitated in an Anzac hostel.

First World War

From 1914 to 1918, over 324,000 Australians served overseas in the First World War, with two-thirds becoming casualties. Their experiences had long-lasting effects on them, their families and society.

Theme

Aboriginal tent embassy Canberra.

Rights and freedoms

First Australians have long fought for equal rights and opportunities. Influential individuals and campaigns drove change in areas such as voting rights, constitutional change and land rights.

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