AUSTRALIA’S “BLACK WATCH”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23970, 20 November 1939, Page 12

AUSTRALIA’S “BLACK WATCH”

PLATOON OF COLOURED MEN APTITUDE FOR MILITARY WORK (From Our Own Correspondent SYDNEY, Nov. 8. Australia has its own “Black Watch ” —a rifle platoon of half-castes at Darwin. Forty strong, they are attached to the Darwin Mobile Police as a militia unit, and are among the keenest soldiers in Australia. It is the first attempt in Australia to train coloured men for military purposes. Formed only four months ago. they have already reached a high degree of military efficiency, though some of them had previous experience. They are so keen that they report for drill and training five nights a week. Their instructors, men of the Mobile Force, are pleased with their intelligence and ready aptitude for military work. All of them are educated and speak English well. Most of the men have aboriginal blood, but some come from Chinese parents. They wear the standard militia uniform and do all types of infantry training. Among them are five brothers. Officers cannot remember their names, so they are known as “A,” “ B,” “ C,” “ D ” and “E.” An officer who helped to train them, now in Sydney, said they were the best bayonet fighters he had ever seen. “ They arc so keen on bayonets that they would like to practise with them all day.” he said. “They are marvellous scouts, too. When the moon goes behind a cloud at night, officers cannot find them.”