RELATED CONTENT: Family’s historic gift to the nation
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The extended family of an Indigenous soldier who died in France in World War 1 gathered in Batemans Bay on Friday to honour his memory.
The descendants of Leonard Smith, including Gloria and Gary Gaal, of Tuross Head, also honoured his brother, Harold, who signed up but was never posted.
The family gathered at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club on June 10 to present to the Australian War Memorial a “dead man’s penny”, a commemorative medal sent to loved ones after Leonard was killed.
It was a historic gesture – the war memorial has no other confirmed “dead man’s penny” from an Indigenous serviceman.
Michael Bell, Indigenous Liaison Officer at the Australian War Memorial, wants more Indigenous families to come forward so staff can research their loved ones’ war service.
A family member read a moving poem at the ceremony.
Batemans Bay RSL sub-branch president Brian Wheeler, a longtime supporter of recognizing Indigenous military involvement, attended.
Full story in Wednesday’s Bay Post/Moruya Examiner.