Maitland Madge

Maitland Madge, MM (March 1894 – 7 June 1944) is believed to be the first Indigenous Australian to be awarded the Military Medal in the First World War. Madge also served as a soldier during the Second World War. In 1941 he was captured by Japanese forces in Singapore. Madge was held as a prisoner of war at Changi Prison until his death in 1944.

Early life Maitland Madge was born in March 1894 in Cooktown, on the Cape York Peninsula of Queensland, to Ella, an Indigenous woman, and Richard Madge, an immigrant from Devon, England.

Due to his actions Madge would later be decorated with the Military Medal, which would make him most probably one of the first Indigenous Australians to receive such an award from the King.