Black Diggers

by Tom Wright

One hundred years ago, in 1914, a bullet from an assassin’s gun in Sarajevo sparked a war that ignited the globe. Patriotic young men all over the world lined up to join the fight - including hundreds of Indigenous Australians.

Shunned and downtrodden in their own country - and in fact banned by their own government from serving in the military - Aboriginal men stepped up to enlist. Undaunted, these bold souls took up arms to defend the free world in its time of greatest need. For them, facing the horror of war on a Gallipoli beach was an escape from the shackles of racism at home, at a time when Aboriginal people stood by, segregated, unable to vote, unable to act as their children were ripped from them. When the survivors came back from the war, there was no heroes’ welcome – just a shrug, and a return to drudgery and oppression.

Black Diggers is the story of these men - a story of honour and sacrifice that has been covered up and almost forgotten.

Genres: Plays, Historical Fiction, War, Indigenous, Teaching, School, Historical

Paperback

Published January 1, 2015

Reviews

[Mariena · Rating 3 out of 5]

i acc enjoyed reading this, ngl i didnt think i would.

[Zitong Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was certainly an interesting play, however, I thought the structure of it was a sort of everywhere. Admittedly, I haven't seen the play and I wouldn't know how it would actually play out on the stage. Overall, it was still enjoyable enough with many clear prominent themes that were explored well.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This MUST be seen live. Gripping and honest, it tells all in one of the most intense pieces of theater I've ever seen. I have viewed the original Queensland production cast seen on the cover and they are excellent. There are funny moments to get you through the serious topic that really evokes thought on WW1 as a whole, not just the recognition of Aboriginal soldiers. This is purposeful Brechtian theater and without viewing all the elements together, a script doesn't do it justice.

[Edith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needed to do a display for my library on this book for our English department, as I didn't know anything about this book. Was I surprised a great play written by Tom Wright about Aboriginal persons who served during the First World War. A couple of very funny moments in among the pain of who these people were treated before and after the war. When then they went to war this was one of the only time when they were treated as equals. Loved the way it was written. Well worth your while picking this book up for a read.

[Talia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strong, resistive and moving. Would love to see this performed one day soon.

[Esha · Rating 1 out of 5]

what the piece of sht was this

[SteveMcI · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would be a great play to see. It gives another perspective we don't consider as white Australians.

[Issy · Rating 3 out of 5]

to many people. I'm confused

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

Told in the same fragmented manner that the mind of a person suffering from PTSD apparently operates in, this is a fairly obvious excursion through yet another episode of Australia's regrettable past treatment of its Indigenous People.

If you are at all aware of Australia's attitude toward its Aboriginal people a century ago (and, of course, more recently), then there will be very little to surprise you here. Very little.

If you are completely unaware of this shameful past, then this play may raise your awareness.

It's quite unlikely, though, that you will be able to "do something" about the problem, as all the Black Diggers from WWI are now rather deceased. Indirectly, you may be able to "do something" by taking on a more empathetic appreciation of the suffering Aborigines still experience today.

And perhaps the message here is just that: not a plea for compensation, but rather an expression of hope that the 2,000 Indigenous Diggers who served alongside 414,806 non-Indigenous Australian Diggers in the Great War not be forgotten.

Recognition. Quite important.

In a nation whose inhabitants not so long ago had trouble recognising the name "Fromelles", perhaps this is part of a larger mission.

[Ystyn Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a powerful play with an historical story that needed to be told. It’s fragmented design allows the opportunity for as many stories and experiences as possible to be shared in the short runtime of a play as well as alluding to the psychological strain caused by the horrors of war. It’s a very important piece of theatre that would be interesting to see performed live. It also successfully highlights a national shame that still needs constant addressing.

[jasmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

when we study a play abt uniquely Indigenous experiences written by a white man…..

[Molly Pring · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to study this book for school and not gonna lie was not a fan of it. I think if I was reading it out of my own pleasure I would’ve enjoyed it more, but because it was a school book and I had to read it against my will, I was more resented towards it. It was a very well put together play though and I could tell that the playwright was very invested in the story and telling the life of the characters.

[Emma Balkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This play cleverly casts light on the experiences of Aboriginal people in the armed forces during World War One, and exposes their shameful treatment upon return to Australia. A book with a two-word title, an ‘own voices ‘ book.

[Sally · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read for VCE marking to be paired with The Longest Memory. Not as haunting as TLM but just as quick to read. It’s a play and jumps around a great deal in time, however it makes its point about the treatment of A&TSI during the first WW. Good pairing. Poignant.

[Bradley White · Rating 5 out of 5]

The playbook for the play, telling the story of a group of First Nation people joining the army to fight in the First World War. They faced barriers enlisting (not of European decent, they weren’t even citizens at the time!). They faced the same terror and tragedy as all soldiers fighting in the trenches, becoming equals with their comrades, but on returning to Australia to suffer the same attitudes and repression.

[Laetitia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4. Some profound observations and musings

[Bec · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insight - being a play was a little hard to read but good to know the history of the issue. (Year 12s are studying it this year)

[DS_Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad,Truthful and meaningful.
I sad look into our past and what Aboriginal people had to endure and still
Do today to a certain degree.

[MelBusMoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but important read about a part of our history few know.

[Monique · Rating 4 out of 5]

~ 4 stars ~ lowkey i didn't hate it

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and well written. More than enough to study here.

[Rand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful.

[Alice Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

bloody fantastic. so much heart and feeling and filled to the brim with cracking quotes to analyse for english. this should be a compulsory book for every school to teach.

[Niki E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is something that needs to be seen live, to bring the elements into cohesion. Reading the play script alone is like observing 60 separate skits from a revue dipping in and out of 100 years of Australian and Aboriginal history, so I’d like to see how they move in and out of each other. The songs and hymns would also bring added poignancy, I feel.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the only assigned books in school i was glad to read

[Ailish McMahon · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book a never would have picked up if not for my literature class was so powerful and such a raw insight into the treatment of indigenous Australian lives I didn’t I think I would enjoy this book/play as much as I did it’s a beautiful read

[Mandy Partridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tom Wright's well researched play sheds light on a shameful episode of Australian history- the denial of basic human rights to our Aboriginal WW1 veterans. I saw Wesley Enoch's powerful production of this show in 2014, and the audience laughed, cried, and yelled "Shame!" a lot. This is a show for a large cast, nine or more, mostly men, mostly Aboriginal; so it is difficult to cast simply because structural racism keeps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander actors out of our drama schools, and professional companies. When I did my drama degree, there were no Aboriginal drama students, and about twenty in my Aboriginal Literature class, mostly Social Work students doing an elective subject. I hope this has changed. The cast I saw were fantastic, talented and funny.

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a recent play about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers during WWI. I haven't seen the play, but by all accounts it's very impressive. The reading experience is not quite as satisfactory. It's by design very fragmentary and there's some nice writing, but I'd need to see it on stage to see how it's all tied together. The transitions between the micro-scenes seem very important.

[Jenique Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Studied this play in an English class. I enjoyed analysing the symbolism and the perspectives of the Indigenous soldiers during the world wars, but disliked that it was written by a white male, just didn’t sit right with me. Also it was confusing to differentiate the characters and where we were in the timeline due to the layout of the play.

[rattana · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for school again, idk??