Military historian Graham McKenzie-Smith at the London Imperial War Museum where he has been researching the underground battles of WWI.

Learn about the role young men from the Goldfields played in World War One tomorrow when military historian Graham McKenzie-Smith presents Goldfields Tunnellers and Sappers in World War One as part of the Western Australian Museum’s In the Wild West lecture series.

The Remembrance Day presentation details how many miners from the Goldfields joined the Tunnelling Companies of the Australian Imperial Force during World War One.

“Their underground war is often overlooked in accounts about what happened during battle in France and Belgium,” said Mr McKenzie-Smith.

“Many miners from the Goldfields worked in confined spaces and bad air to tunnel under the German lines. 

“The three companies of Australian tunnellers played an important part in that underground battle, especially the more than 600 who came from the Goldfields.”

Mr McKenzie-Smith’s lecture is part of the 2014 In the Wild West series, which, with the support of Rangelands Natural Resource Management WA, will visit Broome, Kununurra, Port Hedland, Karratha and Carnarvon, with lectures repeated at WA Museum sites in Geraldton, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Perth and Fremantle over a six month period.

 “With exciting scientific discoveries and interesting cultural developments occurring across the State, the In the Wild West lecture series allows us to share important and relevant stories with Western Australian communities,” WA Museum CEO Alec Coles said.

“This lecture series aligns with the WA Museum’s mission of inspiring people to explore and share their identity, culture, environment and sense of place, and it also underpins the themes supporting the New Museum redevelopment by providing an opportunity to showcase the unique biodiversity of our State, and to share the incredible stories of our people, all presented by our own curators and researchers.”

Goldfields Tunnellers and Sappers in World War One will take place at 5.30pm on Tuesday 11 November, at the Western Australian Museum – Kalgoorlie.

Bookings can be made on 1300 134 081 or at http://museum.wa.gov.au/whats-on/in-the-wild-west

Gold coin donation on entry.

 

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Media contact:

Sharna Craig

Media and Publicity Officer

Western Australian Museum

(08) 6552 7897

sharna.craig@museum.wa.gov.au