How Did Saunders Shape Australia

Racism has been a significant issue over the years and continues to be somewhat of a buzzword in todays society. Reginald Walter Saunders is an excellent example of a man who overcame racism in one of the most difficult of circumstances. Saunders was an Indigenous Australian who fought in WWII both for his county and his rights as an Aborigine. He later became known as the first Aboriginal commissioned officer in the Australian army. Throughout his time of service, he made a significant impact on the world and today I would like to share about his role, importance and the way he helped to shape Australia.

Saunders role in WWII was simply to fight for Australia. He did so because he strongly believed it to be his country despite the discrimination he faced. He was born on the 7th of …show more content…
While some view him as just a talented leader, many acknowledge that he held great importance in WWII, if not to the final outcome, to his people. This is because Saunders used the war to escape from racism and discrimination and break down racial stereotypes, proving that Aboriginal’s should have equal rights to white Australians. Whilst in the army, he had the opportunity to travel, get regular meals, receive further education, grow in confidence and most importantly be judged fairly on his skill and hard work, not race. Several photos present this well and provide some of the best primary sources regarding Saunders’ involvement in the war. In particular, a photo taken by James Tait depicts Reg with his fellow soldiers of the battalion. This is very useful and of great importance because it shows Reg as the only dark skinned man among many white, who in spite of this was the one chosen for a leadership role. Furthermore, the men who served under him completely respected him. This demonstrates that Saunders used the war as an opportunity for reconciliation and unification as well as to break down assumptions about his