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

Six men lean out through a large shell hole in a ship's funnel, smiling and laughing.

Battle of Cape Spada in July 1940

HMAS Sydney was leading a squadron of Allied destroyers off Crete when the crew spotted 2 Italian cruisers.

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 landscape painting with soldiers moving up a mountain range with dead bodies scattered throughout the slope.

Gallipoli classroom lesson

A self-contained lesson to help teach key aspects of the campaign. In-built activities help students consolidate their learning.

Online or printable

Saluting Their Service

Commemorative grants for projects that help Australians understand the experiences of military service or preserve and share information about Australia’s wartime heritage. Closes on 31 August 2025.

Apply online

Veteran stories

Listen to oral histories

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

Harold Dihm's story

Harold joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1942. As a stoker on HMAS Australia, he saw HMAS Hobart after it was torpedoed.

Noel McLaughlin's story

Noel was conscripted into the Australian Army in 1967. Trained as a driver and signaller, he served twice in the Vietnam War.

Jen Magin's story

Jen joined the Australian Army in 1979. A broken leg changed her career. She trained as an officer and served for almost 12 years.

Biography

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10 men in Air Force uniforms casually pose for a group photo, sitting in front of a wooden building.

Flight Sergeant Arnold Lockyer

Arnold was a member of a bomber crew who were shot down over present-day Indonesia in WWII. Taken as a POW, Arnold was killed by his captors days after Japan surrendered. Read his story.

Short film

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Male soldiers in a rowboat with oars and wearing an arm patch with a cross.

Commander Leighton Bracegirdle: Australians at Gallipoli

Australian veteran Leighton Seymour Bracegirdle served with the Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train in World War I.

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.

A group of muddy male soldiers standing on a deck.

Borneo 1942-1945

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

Tobruk: In Their Own Words

Australian media and the Vietnam War: Great Debates