Anzac Portal: Australia's military history and veterans' stories

A sailor looks out from the bow of a ship

Australians in the First Gulf War

Australia sent over 1,800 personnel and several RAN ships to serve in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991.

World War I 1914 to 1918

Soldiers standing near a gun with some loading and operating the gun.

World War II 1939 to 1945

Korean War 1950 to 1953

Photograph of 3RAR on the deck of a US troopship

Vietnam War 1962 to 1975

A male soldier standing in front of a tank.

A ship in a harbour with a cloud of smoke in the background.

Attacks on Northern Australia 1942 to 1943

On 19 February 1942, the Japanese conducted 2 air raids on Darwin in the Northern Territory. These raids were the first and largest against the Australian mainland.

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Community grants

Saluting their Service major and community grants from DVA. Applications for Batch 1 close on 29 July 2026 at 9 pm (Canberra time).

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Veteran stories

Listen to oral histories

We gather stories of ordinary Australians who've had extraordinary experiences serving in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Judy Speedy's story

Judy grew up in a naval family with a strong ethos of service. She joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1962 and served for 6 years.

Glen Ferrarotto's story

Glen joined the Army in 1998, training as a mechanic. He recalled serving in Kuwait and Afghanistan as a specialised mechanic.

Mark Incze's story

Mark joined the RAAF in 1989 and trained as an armourer fitter. He recalled training, F-18s and fitting fighters in Diego Garcia.

Biography

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A Indigenous female looks up to the side

Dolly Gurinyi Batcho

Dolly was one of more than 3,000 First Nations Australians who supported Australia's war effort in World War II.

Short film

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Donald Barnby: Stories of Service

Donald had a varied career in the Australian Army and the Australian Federal Police, with several overseas deployments.

Resources

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We've produced over 100 free resources on Australia's military and service history. Many are designed for teachers and students.

Candour: Stories in the words of those who served 1914-18

Veterans' Stories Vietnam

Origins of war: First World War workbook

Australian Women and War