Lot 4888

Description

Trio: Defence Medal 1939-45; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45. Q85052 T.Mabo. All medals impressed. Swing mounted, spotty toning, otherwise very fine.

The above is full medal entitlement.

Tat Mabo, seaman, age 28, born 29Dec1912 at Murray Island, Qld; Enl.14Jun1941 at Thursday Island, Qld; Trf to Torrens Strait Light Infantry Battalion 01Mar1943; Tfr out to Protector of Islanders for Disch.15Feb1946 as Private; Died 21Oct1986; Buried at Walkerston Cemetery, Mackay Region, Qld.

There were four Mabo Murray Islanders who served in WWII with the Torres Strait Light Infantry, namely Benny, Jack, Lui and Tat. Benny adopted Eddie Koiki Sambo (name changed to Mabo) in accordance with customary law when his mother, Annie (nee Mabo) died shortly after childbirth. Eddie Mabo went on to be instrumental in the Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993 that recognises the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in land and waters according to their traditional laws and customs.