These soldiers went to war for a country that did not want them there | ABC News

Imagine you wanted to defend Australia in war but were told you were too black to join the Australian Army.

That’s exactly what happened to indigenous soldiers who wanted to fight in the World War I, including three men from northern New South Wales who defied authorities to join the army.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised this story contains images of people who have died.

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About This Source - ABC News (Australia)

The video item below is from ABC News (Australia). ABC News is a public news service in Australia produced by the News and Current Affairs division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

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In This Story: New South Wales

New South Wales is a southeastern Australian state, distinguished by its coastal cities and national parks. Sydney, its capital, is home to iconic structures such as the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

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In This Story: Torres Strait Islander

Torres Strait Islanders are the Indigenous peoples of the Torres Strait Islands, which are part of the state of Queensland, Australia. Ethnically distinct from the Aboriginal people of the rest of Australia, they are often grouped with them as Indigenous Australians. Today there are many more Torres Strait Islander people living in mainland Australia (nearly 28,000) than on the Islands (about 4,500).

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In This Story: World War I

World War I, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, also known as the First World War or the Great War, was an international conflict that began on 28 July 1914 and ended on 11 November 1918.

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