This document highlights four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen from Logan who fought in World War 1 - Valentine Hare, Jack Pollard, George Watego, and Murray Watego. It discusses a new project to research and honor their service through documentaries produced with funding from Queensland and Logan City Council. Interviews with descendants discuss discovering more about their ancestors and the impact on developing a cultural identity. The project aims to start a conversation about the contribution of Indigenous Australians in the war and encourage cultural discovery and preservation.

1. BUILDING OUR COMMUNITIES,
BUSINESSES AND PRIDE
Volume 37
April 2015
Anzac Day
services
across
the city
Black Diggers:
Remembering
those once
forgotten

2. LEST WE FORGET
our black diggers remembered
T
hey fought for our country, yet
remained hidden in plain sight;
overlooked by a nation reeling
from years of brutal conflict and by
blinkered attitudes.
They are the Black Diggers of Logan:
Aboriginal, Torres Strait and Australian
South Sea Islanders who fought
and died alongside their comrades
despite not being officially counted as
people of their own nation.
Some Black Diggers even claimed
New Zealand Maori heritage in order
to be able to serve the country.
Now, on the centenary of the Gallipoli
landings, a new project to research
their histories and honour their service
is bringing families together and
unearthing the true extent of their
dedication to the nation.
Meet Valentine Hare, Jack Pollard
and the Watego brothers George
and Murray — four Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander servicemen with
descendants living in Logan, who are
the subjects of three documentaries
produced thanks to funding from the
Queensland Anzac Centenary Grants
Program and Logan City Council.
For their families, the project has
been a cathartic experience, drawing
together family across generations
and helping shed light on the often
unspoken experiences of a returned
veteran.
Descendants of Jack Pollard, Toni
Pollard and cousin Harrison Pollard,
say the project has helped them
discover more about their ancestry,
and develop a connection to culture
and family.
“It’s really been a learning and
discovery about our ancestor – we
really don’t know a terrible lot about
our grandfather,” Toni said.
“We’ve found his signature, found
when he left, when he did his time.
“For me, it’s reinforced my sense of
identity. It’s been cathartic, healing.”
While Harrison was aware of his
grandfather’s service, it wasn’t a topic
that was spoken about.
“My grandfather’s generation didn’t
want to speak about war, and what
they did, from what I gather it was
pretty traumatic,” he said.
Jack Pollard passed away peacefully
in his sleep, taking his stories with
him, and it’s something that Harrison
hopes other families will realise before
it’s too late.
“Not a lot of people want to
remember the past, and talk about
our ancestors, but it’s good to reflect
on what they’ve done for us and
achieved,” he said.
“Even going to war, culturally
speaking it wasn’t really our war, it
was something he did for himself –
fought and returned.”
The Black Diggers of Logan
project aims to start a community
conversation not only about the
importance of family, history and
community, but begin to recognise
the contribution made by Aboriginal,
Torres Strait Islander and Australian
South Sea Islander servicemen to
Australian history.
It is estimated thousands of Black
Diggers fought during World War I. It’s
hoped that by telling these stories, it
will encourage others to begin their
own journey of family and cultural
discovery, and ultimately preservation.
The three short Black Diggers
documentaries on the project,
including interviews from all three
families, will be released in the lead
up to the Centenary of Anzac on 23
April.
Logan City Council runs regular
workshops on genealogy and
preservation. Visit the Libraries
website www.loganlibraries.org for
more information.
Follow the QR Code
nearby to read stories
from the Watego and Hare
families on their journey
of discovery, and view an
extended photo gallery.
This project is proudly supported by the
Queensland Government.4

3. Rank: Private
Age: 20 years 5 months
Service number: 3297
From: Cairns, Queensland
Occupation: Labourer
Enlistment date: 3 February 1917
Military unit: 27/2nd Light Horse
Pte Hare joined the 2nd Light
Horse in Egypt in August 1917,
serving as a member of the
Egypt Expeditionary Force
(EEF). He likely served in the
Battle of Beersheba, taking
part in manoeuvres that led to
the immortalised Charge of the
Light Brigade to take the town of
Beersheba. Wounded following
the Battle of Amman in April
1918, Pte Hare was repatriated to
Australia later that year.
Rank: Private
Age: 22 years 9 months
Service number: 2441
From: Cairns, Queensland
Occupation: Labourer
Enlistment date: 27 July 1917
Military unit: 20/11th Light Horse
Pte Pollard arrived in Middle East at
the start of 1918, in time to take part
in the pursuit of the Ottoman Empire
army along the River Jordan. After
chasing the retreating Ottomans
along the River Jordan, the 11th Light
Horse took part in the raid on Es Salt.
Following the raid, the 11th Light
Horse were issued cavalry sabres and
began training for a mounted raid,
later known as the Battle of Samakh.
Here, Pte Pollard was commanded
by legendary Light Horse commander
Harry Chauvel, and fought Ottoman
troops commanded by Mustafa Kamal
Attaturk, of Gallipoli fame. Following
the signing of an armistice in late
October, Pte Pollard remained in Egypt
until June 1919, when the 11th were
repatriated to Australia.
Rank: Private
Age: 25 years
Service number: 5934
From: Sydney, NSW
Occupation: Labourer
Enlistment date: 26 April 1916
Military unit: 16/26th Battalion
Pte Watego arrived on the Western Front in
early 1917, joining the 26th Battalion in time to
play a role in the Second Battle of Bullecourt.
Following the Somme, the battalion moved to
Belgium, where the battalion was involved in
action at Menin Road and Brooseinde Ridge
in September and October. During this action,
Pte Watego sustained a gunshot wound and
was taken to hospital, eventually surviving and
making his way back to England. By late 1917,
Pte Watego was released and repatriated to
Australia on the Balmoral Castle, coincidently
the same voyage his brother Murray would
make. Upon return, Pte Watego was discharged
from the Army due to his injuries.
Rank: Private
Age: 21 years 4 months
Service number: 2178
From: Cudgen, NSW
Occupation: Farmer
Enlistment date: 26 April 1916
Military unit: 3/41st Battalion
Enlisting one year and one day after the Gallipoli landings, Murray
Watego arrived in the Western Front in late March 1917. His unit
played a supporting role in action at Messines Ridge, and was
later tasked with constructing new defences in full view of enemy
forces. In what became known as “the 18 days” the battalion
completed its tasks under constant shelling and machine gun
fire. The battalion avoided the carnage at Passchendaele, but
Murray’s war was over. By the end of October 1917 he had been
diagnosed with ‘shell shock’, an early name for Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and was eventually repatriated to
Australia, returning with his brother in early 1918.
Hare, Valentine
Watego, Murray
Pollard, Jack
Watego, George
5