During World War II, Aboriginal Australians were generally not accepted into the armed forces, the Army, Navy nor Airforce. However, this all changed after Japan entered the war and the government began to fear the security of the Northern Territory. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Soldiers in the north of Australia were recruited. More than 800 signing up to join the uniformed Torres Straight Light Infantry. But there was another group that will be our focus for today. The group was made up of 50 non-uniformed men with incredible tracking skills, who became known as the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit.

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Find the transcript at the History Detective Podcast Website. 

Reflection Questions

1. Why is important for a historian to find corroborating evidence when trying to prove a hypothesis?
2. Why do you think the army at the time had rules around the enlistment of Aboriginal people?
3. Censorship is where the government ban certain things from being printed in newspapers. Explain what you think the motive of the government was in censoring Aboriginal soldier’s participation in the war effort?
4. Why was it economically beneficial for the army to use Aboriginal men for their reconnaissance unit?

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Accompanying teaching resources for this episode can be found on my Amped Up Learning Store

Contact: Twitter @HistoryDetect, Instagram @HistoryDetective9, email  [email protected]

History Detective Website

All original music written and performed by Kelly Chase.

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If you would like to support the podcast, you and Buy Me a Coffee

Write a review on Podchaser, Apple or Spotify.

The History Detective Season 1 & 2 Album is  now available on Spotify and all of your music streaming services.

Contact: Twitter @HistoryDetect, Instagram @HistoryDetective9, email  [email protected]

History Detective Website

All  music written and performed by Kelly Chase.