Soldiers and Aliens

Soldiers and Aliens by June Factor explores a forgotten history of the remarkable contribution of non-British subjects to Australia in World War II.

Four thousand Australian soldiers in World War II signed up for service but never fired a weapon. Their work was essential for the war effort, yet they were deemed 'aliens'—non-British subjects, with many born in other countries. This diverse group included scholars and peasants, musicians and factory workers, communists and royalists, Jews and Catholics, as well as animists and atheists.

These individuals laboured under standard strict Army regulations, living in tents and huts, loading and unloading trains, working the wharves, cutting timber, and transporting goods. They also raised money for good causes, gave public concerts, and staged theatre performances. Every day, they lived with the fear for loved ones caught up in the horrors of occupied Europe and Asia.

This multicultural force existed in the Army long before the term 'multicultural' was coined. Largely forgotten, their significant contribution to Australia during World War II forms an engrossing story, providing new insights into this critical period of Australian history.