An ANZAC Day Story. Who was Batcho Mingo?

Indonesians acted as interpreters, translators and intelligence gatherers to help Australia in war time, as far back as World War 1. Source: Image courtesy Dr Paul Thomas.

Every 25 April Australia commemorates ANZAC Day to pay respect to the ANZACs who fought at Gallipoli in 1915 and to all people who have served Australia during times of war. How was it possible for an Indonesian to have been part of Australia’ World War I story?

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Dr Paul Thomas is the editor of ‘Talking North,’ a book that traces the history of the study of the Indonesian language in Australia.  He tells the stories of two remarkable Indonesians involved in Australia’s World War I and World War II campaigns.

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Dr P. Thomas at the Indonesian Council Open Conference, ANU Canberra for the book launch of Talking North: the Journey of Australia’s First Asian Language 2019. Source: Photo courtesy Dr Paul Thomas.