Tribute to fallen brothers

More than 150 people gathered in the car park of the Whim Creek Hotel on Saturday morning for a memorial to five members of the Lockyer family who fought in World War II.

The service payed tribute to brothers Edgar, Arnold, Albert, Elliot and Eric Lockyer at their memorial site which consists of five stones and plaques, installed in 2006.

Ngarluma elder Pansy Hicks started the service with a welcome to country before the Pilbara Regiment's catafalque party marched in to guard the memorial.

Prayers were said before members of the extended Lockyer family addressed those gathered.

Keith Lockyer, son of Edgar, talked about the time it took to set up the memorial in the first place.

"For years and years there was talk and hope something like this would be erected, but there wasn't any help from the RSLs or the Government," he said.

"In 2005, my younger sister said 'are we going to put something up or aren't we?' so we all pitched together with some help along the way to do it.

"There was a mining company here operating at the time and one of the men from there was tasked with finding the stones for each memorial."

Pilbara Regiment commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Paul Smith was so moved by the many members of the Lockyer family who spoke on the day, he ditched his prepared speech when addressing the crowd.

"After first moving here at the end of last year and upon seeing the memorial and learning more of the brothers, I wanted to know more and I wondered why more about them wasn't known across the broader Australian Defence Force," he said.

"It's an amazing story of self-sacrifice and devotion, paying the ultimate sacrifice, but also upon returning home, facing discrimination.

"To all indigenous servicemen, past and present, we pay tribute to them."

Many wreaths were laid before the Last Post was played and a minute's silence heard.