Join Pastor Ray Minniecon Chairman of the Jack Alick Bond Memorial Grave Committee in recognising a unique Aboriginal Digger through a full Monumental Grave Re-dedication and Plaque, a public Memorial Service, and the accompanying illustrated information booklet.
“When the war broke out in 1899 Australia was still made up of six separate colonies and despite the fact the Federation was imminent, each colony still retained local responsibility for land defences. With the outbreak of war, civilians throughout the Australian colonies enthusiastically volunteered for service. This was actively supported by the governments of the day and various colonial contingents were formed. Each of the colonies sent between four and six contingents that served mostly in mounted units, often known as 'Mounted Rifles', 'Bushmen' or 'Imperial Bushmen'."
Source: - https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/archives/collection...
From Tracker to Trooper. When the call went out in the various colonies for volunteers to serve for, ‘God, Queen and Empire’, there was an overwhelming response from men around Australia. Through strict selection trials only ‘the best riders and shots’ were selected to fill the limited positions available. Amongst those to be selected for the First Australian Horse, was an Aboriginal, Jack Alick Bond. Jack, a very proud Yuin man who came from Krawarree, an area south of Braidwood in the upper Shoalhaven basin. Like his father, Jacky Alick before him, Jack had already gained a good reputation as a police tracker.
1063 Trooper Jack Alick Bond. Jack was one of a group of volunteers from the Braidwood area who departed Newcastle on the Surrey on the 17th January 1900, as members of the Second Contingent of the First Australian Horse. The contingent arrived in Cape Town, South Africa on the 23rd February 1900, and joined up with the First Contingent in March. The group advanced to Pretoria and beyond, taking part in action ranging from minor skirmishes to battles including engagements at Poplar Grove, Zand River, Diamond Hill, Zilicats Nek, Kameel Drift and the battle of Belfast. They returned to Sydney on the Tongariro on 2nd May 1901 after almost a year and a half of war.
Queanbeyan Age, Wednesday 12 June 1901, page 3
Presentation of Medal from the Duke. From his research on all known Aboriginal Boer War participants, Historian Peter Bakker has determined that Trooper Jack Alick Bond is currently the first known Aboriginal serviceman to be presented a medal for military service in a foreign country. There is documentation that Jack was presented his Queen’s South Africa Medal from the Duke of Cornwall and York during his Royal visit to Australia, on the 1st June 1901. As a consequence, Jack Alick Bond was awarded his medal from no less than the future King of the United Kingdom, the British Dominions and Emperor of India, King George V (1910-1936). Being presented his medal from the Duke would have been an immensely proud day for Jack Alick Bond. Today we can also recognise it as an incredibly significant event in the recognition of Aboriginal servicemen and servicewomen who have served in the Australia’s Armed Forces for over 120 years from the Boer War, to the present day.
356 Trooper Jack Alick Bond - The First Aboriginal to do Two Tours of Active Overseas Service. Despite the harsh conditions of military service and suffering the potentially deadly disease of enteric during his first tour of South Africa, Jack decided to enlist for a second tour of duty. He enlisted as a Trooper in the first Australian Federal Military Unit known as the First Australian Commonwealth Horse. His second foray into the South African War was of much shorter duration. The First Australian Commonwealth Horse departed Sydney aboard the Custodian on 17th February and returned to Sydney on the 11th August 1902 aboard the Drayton Grange. Its main duties had been to clear the district north of Klerksdorp. Peace was declared with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging on the 31st May 1902.
Our Mission:
After extensive research, military researcher Peter Bakker located the grave site of an Aboriginal man, Trooper Jack Alick Bond, who served in the Boer War (1900-1902). His unmarked grave lies in Botany Cemetery Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (ESMP), Sydney. In mid-2020 the Jack Alick Bond Memorial Grave Committee (JABMGC) was convened under the chairmanship of local Sydney man, Pastor Ray Minniecon, to organise for a grave and the public recognition for Jack’s extraordinary life and military service. We are reaching out to you for your financial assistance.
The JABMG Committee have contacted a wide range of relevant persons, including some of his extended family, local elders, military, and historical institutions to obtain ‘the green light’ to proceed with obtaining these fitting tributes to honour Jack Alick Bond and publicise his life and military service.
We are inviting you to donate generously to the Jack Alick Bond Memorial Grave Project and we cordially welcome you to attend the Dedication Ceremony at the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Botany, planned for 31st May 2021. The ceremony will comply with any necessary requirements for COVID safety restrictions at that time.
Our Goals:
Our fundraising goal is to raise $30,000. This will cover the costs of a full Monumental Grave Re-dedication and Plaque, a public Memorial Service, and the accompanying illustrated information booklet.
Copies of a beautifully illustrated multiple page booklet on the life and Military Service of Jack Alick Bond will be available for purchase or as a gift for some contributions to this campaign.
Memorial Service and Grave Re-Dedication
Date: 31st May 2021 (On the 119th Anniversary of the Treaty of Vereeniging to end the Boer War)
Time: 10:45am for 11.00 am start. (COVID-19 restrictions will be observed.)
Address: Corner of Military Road and Morrison Way, Botany Cemetery. (Near Administration Building)
Please think seriously about contributing to this campaign, which will make a significant contribution to not only recognising the unique life of Jack Alick Bond, but also to the wider recognition of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Servicemen and Servicewomen and the Communities and their families who supported them.
