What is a criado?

Criado means servant in Portuguese. But according to Patsy Thatcher who recorded the stories of all the members of 2/2nd Commando Squadron, to them it meant “little mate”. According to Ayris in ‘All the Bull’s Men’ :

“The criados’ average age was thirteen, though some were as young as nine or ten. They begged to be allowed to help the Australians and, once accepted, they stuck with them, hefting their equipment, finding them food and water, washing their clothes, acting as guides, becoming their eyes and ears, bringing them little luxuries such as fresh fruit and meat, and carrying their weapons to lighten their load when being pursued by the Japanese. Close relationships developed between the soldiers and their criados that sometimes lasted long after the war”.