For a century, Private William Allen Irwin DCM—a proud Aboriginal soldier who gave his life on the battlefields of France during the First World War—remained unrecognised by Australia. William was a proud Gomeroi man who enlisted in World War I in 1916 at a time when he was not recognised as a citizen. Since his death, his family carried his memory, while his name was absent from Australia’s official tributes to soldiers. His descendant Peter Milliken has strived to get his ancestor recognised for the past decade. With numerous letters sent to politicians and the government, Peter has requested for William’s medals to be upgraded to reflect the bravery he showed. However, each of his requests have been denied. If William can’t get the recognition he deserves in his own country, Peter wonders how the French people feel about William. 106 years following William’s death, Peter meets Joe Flick, a Gomeroi / Yullaroi man who has researched the Indigenous soldiers who are buried in France, UK, and Belgium. Joe invites Peter over to France with him to honour his ancestor on behalf of his family, to ensure that his memory is never forgotten.
Through observational footage and interviews, we see Peter on a deeply emotional journey to piece together the memory of his ancestor. With the help of Joe, a French schoolteacher and the generosity of locals, Peter visits reconstructed trenches, cemeteries and museums, searching for traces of William. During his time in France, he is astounded at how much respect the local French community have for his Great Uncle William and other Indigenous soldiers, contrasting this with the recognition that Australia showed towards William. Peter visits the battle site where William was wounded, being the first in his family to do so. In a deeply poignant moment, Peter discovers where his Great Uncle William is buried. In Pete’s Gomeroi culture, the spirit cannot be at rest until it returns home to country. In a moving ceremony, Peter honours William playing clapsticks for each year that he was alive, before soil is collected from the grave and returned to Gomeroi country – uniting William with his brothers and family for the first time in more than a century.
Through interviews with William’s descendants, the French community and an expert on the service of Aboriginal WWI soldiers, the film uncovers the little-known story of Aboriginal soldiers who fought in WWI as well as the dilemma many Aboriginal families face with their ancestor’s soldiers buried far away from their traditional lands. In learning about William’s story, the French people decide to honour William with a special ceremony as he is made an honorary citizen of the Somme. The first time any WWI soldier to receive this distinction.
Yaluu (See You Again) highlights a history that is often overlooked and poses the question “how far has Australia still got to go in fully acknowledging the contributions of Indigenous WWI soldiers?”
