1939-1951
Noongar people were also involved in World War Two. When Noongar soldiers returned however, they were not recognised for their war efforts, nor were they granted the same privileges as white soldiers. Land settlements were granted to returned soldiers and also to Italian immigrants who had been prisoners of war and worked the land during this time. Although Noongar too had worked the land and served in the war, we were not granted land settlements.
Arthur Edward Morrison, a Noongar man, was born in 1919 and was a farmhand and rabbit trapper before joining the armed forces. He was a prisoner of war at Changi during the Second World War. Arthur Morrison died in 2000.
Augustine (Gus) Mindemarra was born in New Norcia on 15.6.1904. Prior to the Second World War he worked as a labourer. He enlisted in the Australian Army in December 1940. Mindemarra embarked for overseas service on the HMAT US 11A at Fremantle in July 1941. He died on 19.9.1973 in Katanning.