- Aboriginal war hero set to receive proper recognition 50 years after his burial
- Lance Corporal Charles Blackman fought on the Western Front during WWI
- He was buried in an unmarked grave, but will now be recognised for his heroism
An Aboriginal war hero will be given proper recognition 50 years after he was buried in an unmarked grave.
Lance Corporal Charles Tednee Blackman was one of the first indigenous men to enlist to fight in World War I.
He spent four years fighting on the Western Front – killing 10 Germans – but when he returned to Australia he was committed to a mental asylum.
Lance Corporal Charles Tednee Blackman was one of the first indigenous men to enlist to fight in World War I
He will finally be given a proper recognition 50 years after he was buried in an unmarked grave
He died in 1966 and was buried in an unmarked grave, but he will finally be recognised for his heroism at a ceremony in Charters Towers, North Queensland on Thursday according to the ABC.
Kate and Chris Bull have researched Mr Blackman’s history, and Ms Bull said a lack of respect for Aboriginal soldiers was commonplace decades ago.
‘Anyone who puts a uniform on deserves at least a proper burial,’ she said.
‘He never got the proper burial he deserved, he was just a lonely broken man by the time he’d finished.’
She said there were another 10 soldiers who were buried in unmarked graves and deserved to be recognised.
Mr Blackman’s descendants, as well as Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne and Major General Mark Kelly will be attending Thursday’s ceremony.
He spent four years fighting on the Western Front – killing 10 Germans – but when he returned to Australia he was committed to a mental asylum (Australian soldiers during World War I pictured)