Military Historical

• Society: History: By Topic: Wars and Conflicts: Regional: Australia  (5)

First World War Official Histories   - First World War Official Histories by the most respected historian of the time, C E W Bean. This is a goldmine. Adobe Reader needed but free.

ANZAC BOOK - The Anzac Book was written at Gallipoli in 1915, by the Anzacs themselves. It was edited by the famed historian CEW Bean and the Introduction was written by the Commander, Sir William R Birdwood.

The Anzac Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland - Information for schools concerning the role played by Australian forces in war. Helps to organise the annual Anzac Day ceremonies in Queensland. Hosts articles related to different aspects of the Australian experience of war.

Anzac Research - A site dedicated to the Anzacs of World War One. Lists peoples' interests in different units, and formations, and contains a selection of photographs; some identified, some waiting for identification.

Anzac Research Forum - A multi strand forum offering help with questions about Australian WW1 history.

Anzac Story for boys & girls - A short but concise account of the Gallipoli Campaign by someone who was there. It was written for a juvenile audience but is worth reading, even by adults.

Anzac Unit Histories of the 1st AIF & 1st NZEF - A new & exciting project to make all the Unit Histories available to the public, on the web. Only in the early days but already interesting.

Anzacs: Officers died at Gallipoli, 1915 - Biographic details of approximately 500 officers of the Anzac Corps who died due to service on the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in 1915. Photographs and maps as well as details on how eligible families may apply for an Anzac commemorative medallion. Also includes a complete listing of the Anzac epitaphs from the cemeteries of Gallipoli.

Aussie & Kiwi Uniforms, 1788 to 2002 - A full history of the uniforms of the AIF and CMF, the NZEF as well as some other Aussie & Kiwi Units. As well there are uniforms from Allied and enemy countries

Aussie Korean War Combat Photo-Story Album - Personal photos and tales by Australian Korean War veterans.

Australian & New Zealand Military History Forum - Digger History Forum An easy to use message board or forum for the exchange of information about Australian or New Zealand military history matters. List your question and get expert answers from friendly people. This forum covers every military matter from 1788 to 2002 for 3 services in both countries.

Australian Army Formation Signs (TAC Signs) - The 1st and 2nd AIF both used formation signs (TAC Signs) to identify bases, vehicles and property. This is a full listing of them taken directly from the Australian Army documents. These are the genuine article not reproductions. Also there is some camouflage detail.

Australian Army in WW2 - Details told year by year by the blokes that were there about the doings of the Army. The sad, the funny, the history. It's all here.

The Australian Commemorative Plaques Project. - Ross Bastiaan was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his single-handed work in placing - all over the world - over 100 large bronze plaques commemorating the sites of Australia's finest military achievements. Not only did Ross - whose site this is - place the plaques voluntarily, he also personally hand sculpted each of them and conducted the fund-raising and negotiations necessary for such a large project.

Australian Non Military War Badges - Australia had a lot of badges for civilians and former sailors, soldiers,airmen and nurses. It also had badges for men who had volunteered but were not allowed to enlist and for people who worked in war related activities.See many of them here

Australian Service Nurses National Memorial - A developing list of Australian nurses who have died during, or as a result of, war service in any conflict since the Boer War.

The Australian Soldier: a portrait, by John Hetherington - This is a word painting of the Australian soldier in the Middle East. Bardia, Tobruk, the Campaign in Greece, after the Fall of Crete, Egypt. This was the Second AIF in its formation years. Photos and pencil sketches by Russell Drysdale. Text by a War Correspondent who was there at the time it all happened.

Australian War Graves in South Africa 1899 - 1902 - A project which aims to publish a database of burial and memorial locations of all Australians who died during the second Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, 1899 - 1902.

Australian War Graves Photographic Archive - Creating a virtual Australian National War Grave Archive Web Site containing a digital photograph of every Australian War Grave and Memorial Commemoration of Armed Forces Personnel deceased through service of their country.

Australian War Memorial - One of the great military museums of the world. Covers Australian involvement in conflicts since the Maori Wars of the 1860s. Contains online databases of all official and private records, art, sound recordings, film and photographs held by the memorial. Visits to the memorial and / or its research section may be planned, and items ordered either from this section or from the museum's shop.

Australian War Time Medals & Medallions - An interesting grouping of Aussie medallions from the Soudan to WW2.

The Australian Warbirds Association - A non profit company for aircraft owners, operators, restorers, maintainers, historians and enthusiasts to share their passion for ex-military aviation, and to promote and preserve Australia's proud military aviation heritage.

Australian WW1 Personnel Service Records - National Archives of Australia's online order form for personnel records. Use this to obtain a copy of the complete service dossier of any Australian soldier, sailor, airman or nurse of the Great War.

Australians serving in the Boer War, South Africa (1899-1902) - Research resource and information guide for those with a Boer War soldier in their ancestry. Alphabetical list of soldiers, glossary of terms, and bibliography included.

Australia's Forgotten Flag - The Australian Red Ensign played a significant role in Australia's early military history. Now some people are trying to deny it happened. Judge for yourself after you have looked at the evidence on this site.

Australia's involvement in UN peace-keeping missions - Maintained by a former Australian peace-keeper to Cambodia. It has details of the United Nations missions in which Australia has been, and is currently, involved.

Australia's Most Controversial VC winners - Jackson won the VC. He won the DCM. He was awarded both. They took the DCM away from him 2 years later. The MM was never awarded or worn yet the memorials say that he was a MM winner. This is Australia's youngest and most controversial VC. Kelliher was tried and convicted as a coward. Later the decision was overturned. Later he won the VC. He was another controversial VC winner. There are 5 other VC winners here including the first VC to emigrate to Australia.

The Battle for Australia - A site that dedicates itself to providing a full yet concise picture of the dark days in Australia's life when invasion by Japanese land and naval forces seemed more than possible. All the important battles are here and the layout allows you to easily get to your point of interest.

The Battle of Hamel - History and Memory - A very particular event of World War I in France and of the Australian Corps' involvement. Some local history and account of the battle plus presentation of the various forms of that period memory (commemorations, war relics, Australian Corps Memorial Park etc.)

Boer War - Australians who served database project - The Australians in the Boer War (Oz-Boer) Database Project marks the centenary of the participation by Australia in the Second Anglo-Boer War by making it easier to locate source materials dealing with individual Australian participants.

Buttons of the Australian Military Forces - Images of many of the items that many people consider the basic necessities of a military uniform, the buttons. From the Colonial units to recent, all three Services.

Canada in Khaki - A short and concise account of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) which served alongside the AIF and the NZEF (Anzac Corps). Copy of a Canadian Government booklet with additions of badges and other details

Colour patches, Australia, NZ & Canada military - Over 1,800 colour patches from the Australian Army since WW1 to recent. Also some of the patches of Canada with more to come. NZ section is planned.

Commercial site: Anzac Day - Offers background about the Gallipoli campaign and information about Anzac Day commemorations.

Commercial site.25 April Anzac Day Memorials Anzacday Tours Gallipoli Canakkale - ANZAC, Anzacday Turkey, Anzacday Information, Anzac Day History, Gallipoli Tours, Anzacday Info, Australian and New Zealand Dawn Service, 25April Anzac Memorials

Commercial site. Hassle Free Travel Agency (Commercial site) - Tours to Gallipoli battlefields...

Commercial site. Independent ANZAC Network - A commercial site that contains info about Anzac's, Anzac history, Anzac day dawn service at Gallipoli - Turkey, links to other official Anzac sites, info and map about the Gallipoli peninsula. Also provided are: links to general info about Turkey, Australia & New Zealand.

Commercial site: Men of Anzac - John Simpson Kirkpatrick - A page about and dedicated to John Simpson Kirkpatrick, a stretcher-bearer with the 3rd Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps, remembered as "the man with the donkey". Killed in action at Gallipoli, 19 May 1915.

Diary of an Australian soldier of the Great War - Lance Corporal Reg. Part, a signaller with the 24th Battalion, A.I.F., served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. He kept a diary which has been reproduced on this site.

Digger History; Australia at War - All conflicts are covered in this MASSIVE site (over 1,800 pages) with details of Australian and enemy soldiers, the slouch hat,uniforms, medals, equipment, planes, tanks, weapons, poetry, battles, units, leaders and maps. Probably the most comprehensive site on the subject and LOTS of fast load photos.

Digger History WW2 Changi POW Camp - Changi is notorious as a "hell hole" but did it really earn that reputation? This site looks at the facts and trys to provide a clear and balanced view of an emotive subject. Lots of photos and maps. Some audio using Windows Media Player.

Families and Friends of the First AIF - This group, started by the noted Australian historian John LAFFIN, exists to extend our knowledge of the deeds of the First AIF, the AFC, RAN and AANC. All can join but membership is not necessary to view the site. Laffin, the "Digger's Champion" left a legacy these folk are building on. Some rare posters, some medals and some long lost quotes and stories are all here. Worth a look.

Fighting Fourth, a history of 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) 2nd tour - 4RAR/NZ (ANZAC) on its second tour was the last Australian & New Zealand Battalion to serve in South Vietnam. That was 1971-1972. This is a reproduction of the Battalion's self created history of that tour. Mostly photos, just enough text to tell the story.

Find a Sailor, Soldier or Airman - A quick reference guide to how to track down an Aussie service man or woman from Sudan War, Boer War, WW1 WW2 or Gulf War (not Korea, Malaya or Viet Nam yet)

First AIF Order of Battle - The Order of Battle of the Australian Imperial Force, 1914 - 1919. Lists in detail the units composing the army raised in Australia for overseas service (the A.I.F.) during the course of the Great War. Includes the Gallipoli (Dardanelles), Middle East and Western Front theatres.

Following the Australians on the Western Front - An account of the author's travels through what was the Western Front, tracing the movements of his grandfather who fought there. Private Robert Ralph Abercromby, 44th Battalion A.I.F., also kept a diary, which is quoted at intervals throughout the narrative.

Gallipoli 1915 - A concise account of the unsuccessful attempts by the Royal Navy and French Navy to force the Dardanelles, and of the consequent landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula by the British, French, Indians and Anzacs.

Gallipoli Anzac Helles Suvla - Photos of Gallipoli then and now, a dictionary of Anzac slang, and some unusual photos of devices designed to fool the enemy. Account of how the author and his friend re-discovered a Turkish position on the southern Anzac flank. Also information on the 1/5th Norfolk Regiment, 'The Vanished Battalion' of Gallipoli.

The Gallipoli Association - The Association's objective is to preserve the memory of the men who served in, and commemorate the events of the Great War campaign on, the Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey, between April 1915 and January 1916.

Grants Militaria - Australian military history site, with hundreds of photographs showing uniforms and equipment. Includes special features, articles of Boer War research, WW1 & WW2 diaries, discussion forum, uniforms of the world.

Graveyards of Gallipoli. - A site that list all the graveyards of Gallipoli, with photos, historical information, visiting information and other details. Based on CWGC information with photos from a Gallipoli resident.

The Gun Plot - History of the Royal Australian Navy, covering WW1 and Gallipoli, WW2, Malaya, Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam. Provides details of warships, weapons, battles and heroes.

HARDNBOLD. The 57/60th Battalion in WW2 - Two original AIF Battalions were linked to make the 57/60th Battalion for WW2. It fought with distinction in PNG and on Bougainville. This is the history not just of the Battalion but also the weapons they used, the weapons used against them and over 150 photos of the men who served.

HMAS - 4 books written in WW2 tracing the doings of The Royal Australian Navy. Lots of photos and drawings.

In memory of Norman Henry Sohier - Dedicated to the memory of Private Henry Sohier, 4th Battalion, A.I.F., killed in action at Gallipoli, Turkey, on 13th July 1915. Includes family photos, WW1 photos and links for the genealogist researching Anzac ancestors.

Indigenous Australians At War - Research into Australian Aboriginal servicemen in the defence of Australia. Provides information on a not-well-known aspect of Australian military history.

Light Horse & Infantry badges of AIF & AMF - Hat and collar badges of the Light Horse Regiments and Infantry Battalions of the Australian Military Forces who made the base on which the First and Second AIF were built.

The Light Horse Association - Few Australian military units create as much interest as the Light Horse. This site is a well designed and informative one with lots of factual information about their activities including the famous "last great cavalry charge" at Beersheba. All aspects of the life of a Mounted Infantry Regiment are well covered.

Medals to Australia - A listing of most medals of a military nature awarded to Australians from 1788 to 2000. Many colour photos and details of how and why awarded. Includes military Knighthoods and some foreign awards made to Australians. Also medal protocol and methods of mounting. Order of precedence is listed.

Military Badges - The Booker Collection - A collection of hand drawn and pictures of military badges and military insignia from Australia, New Zealand, UK, Canada, South Africa, Bulgaria, China, Argentina, and India. All drawn or collected by Chief Warrant Officer Herbert H "Sarge" Booker 2nd from the USA.

Military Historical Society of Australia - The MHSA site contains details of membership, back-issues of its journal 'Sabretache,' and articles covering all wars in which Australia has been involved.

The Military Photograph Museum And Registry of Australia - A growing collection of Australian military photographs including portraits of those who served. Special software (suitable only for Windows) must be downloaded from the site and used to access the photographs.

Military Vehicle Collectors Society of Sth Aust - Our members have between them over 150 historic and military vehicles.

42nd Australian Infantry Battalion 1939/45 - Continuation of the story of the efforts of the 42nd Battalion. Deals with WW2. Plenty of photos and also Japanese weapons and equipment. Weapons,tanks,planes, maps, documents and an Honour Roll. Very comprehensive.

42nd Battalion AIF 1916/19 - An Australian Infantry Battalion in WW1 with details of the men, medals, weapons and the enemy. A comprehensive look at what life was like in the trenches.The site is rich with images and contains the Battalion History written in 1938.

42nd Battalion AIF & 42nd AIB Honour Roll - 554 Officers & men fell with the 42nd Battalion AIF in WWI and 63 more fell in WW2 serving in the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion. Here are the names, dates, burial places and next of kin details. Lots of photos of the 82 different War Cemeteries that provide a final resting place.

NZ ARMY - The military history of the blokes who put the NZ into ANZAC. Starts in the 1840s and goes through until the 1990s. Based on an official publication.

On Guard with the Australian Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) - The VDC were Australia's version of the Home Guard. They were raised originally by the Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSL) but were later taken over by the Army. This is their sory, told by them. Lots of pictures.

The Queen's & Regimental Colours - Battle Flags of the Australian ARMY are called 'The Colours' in Infantry Units or Guidons in Mounted or Cavalry Units. Here are photos and descriptions of some of them.

RAAF - A 4 book series telling the WW2 story of the Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Regiment - Service in Vietnam by the Australian Infantry Battalions of the RAR. A short but well laid out and reasonably comprehensive report of the 9 Battalions, their weapons and equipment, their tours of duty and what it was like in the "Funny Country".

The (Royal) Marines & the British Army in Australia from 1788 to 1913 - A comprehensive look at the Colonial era from the military viewpoint. The British Units, where and when they served, their weapons, their successes and their failures.

Royal Military College (RMC) Duntroon - The life and experiences of staff cadets at Australia's Royal Military College Duntroon, Canberra, during the 1960's. Includes details of military and academic training, traditions, routines, legends, and of more contoversial topics. Includes many photos and links. Created by several staff cadets and graduates who served in the Australian Army at the time.

RSL Community Link. - Honour a Digger (or sailor or airman). This site shows how to obtain a metal chest badge containing the Service crest, Regimental number, name, unit, date of death and medal ribbons of your chosen serviceman. Suitable for wearing on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day. RSL approved & supported.

The Shrine of Remembrance - Located in Melbourne, the shrine commemorates the lives lost in the Great War of 1914-1918.

Slouch hat and other headwear for Australia & NZ - The slouch hat was NOT really Australian but the AIF made it ours. Read the full history

Soldiering On: The Australian Army at Home and Overseas. 1942 - This is the 1942 volume of a series of books put out during the war by the AWM. It gives a good insight to the doings of the Army during that eventful time.

The story of Sgt. E J "Ned" Dwyer, AN&MEF1914/15 & AIF 1916/1918 - A pictorial record of the service of a Digger who signed up in 1914 with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force and went on to serve with the 42nd battalion AIF

37th Battalion - 37th Battalion AIF. Full Nominal and Honour roll of soldiers that served in this battalion. Photographs and letters home.

The 2/26th Battalion AIF "The Gallopers" - A well researched history of the Second 26th AIF. They were part of the ill-fated 8th Australian Division and it tells the story of the near forgotten Malayan Campaign that was overshadowed in history by the horrors the POWs were subjected to

Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club of Queensland - A site dedicated the men who served their country and came home to ride. The club was established to provide social and welfare support for bikers who are Vietnam Veterans. The VVMC Qld Chapter is not only a motorcycle club, but is also recognised as an Ex Service Organization and Welfare Group in its own right by the Dept. of Veterans’ Affairs and other various government and veteran groups.

Western Australian Colonial Defence Forces from 1861 to 1901 - A nearly complete listing of all the Western Australian Volunteer Forces and the Permanent Forces and the Defence Forces prior to Federation at 1901. Details of Units, badges, medals, Officers and men