Content on World War II 1939-1945

This page lists content tagged with "World War II 1939-1945"

Alan Ward - World War II veteran (Video)

Alan Ward was working in a butcher's shop in Hillview, Queensland, before he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in July 1941.

Albert Chalmers Borella

Albert Chalmers Borella MM VC served with the 26th Australian Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli and on the Western Front during World War I.

Albert David Lowerson

Victoria Cross citation3rd Military District.No. 2358 Sergeant Albert David Lowerson, 21st Battalion.

Albert Edward Chowne

 

Alexander Kerr - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Alexander Kerr - World War II veteran (Video)

Alexander McBride Kerr enlisted on 27 April 1940 in Perth. He was part of the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). After completing training, Alex was posted to England.

Ali Baba and his 20,000 thieves

'Ali Baba' Morshead, so called by Lord Haw Haw, led the 9th Australian Division in both Tobruk and El Alamein.

Aliens

In November 1941, just weeks before Japan entered World War II, Japanese nationals were among the 'Aliens' travelling around Australia with Wirth's Circus.

Alison Worrall - World War II veteran (WAAAF) (Oral history)

Alison Worrall - World War II veteran (WAAAF) (Video)

Alison Worrall enlisted in the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) on 23 August 1941. Before enlisting, she had worked in an ammunition factory, filling bullets.

All in—The Australian homefront 1939-1945

Despite, or maybe because of, their vivid memories of the horrors of the First World War, many Australians continued their day to day lives with little or no change during the early years of World…

Ambon and Hainan

We'd go out and dig the graves, and then bury them. And by the time we got back from one there'd be another one ready to go out … You couldn't keep up with it.

American forces liberate South Korea (Oral history)

AMW ART26488 (Image)

An extraordinary war for HMS Kanimbla

The Australian passenger ship MV Kanimbla had an extraordinary war. She was converted into an armed merchant carrier in September 1939 and seconded to the Royal Navy. Apart from capturing 22 enemy…

Andy Anderson - World War II veteran (RAAF) (Oral history)

Andy Anderson - World War II veteran (RAAF) (Video)

Andrew 'Andy' Anderson joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in Perth in March 1942.

Angas 'Gus' Murray Hughes - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Anne Curtis - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Anne Curtis - World War II veteran (Video)

Anne Curtis had been a keen sailor before the war, so her enlistment in the Royal Australian Navy on 9 November 1942 at Manly, Queensland, was a natural choice.

Anzac Day 2024 poster (Poster)

This poster honours all Australian personnel who have served in wars, conflicts and peace operations. It shows the 2023 Anzac Day service at the local war memorial in Tuross Head, New South Wales.

Anzac Day In Australia (1940) newsreel (Video)

The first Anzac Day of the war was seen very much as a passing of the torch from the original AIF to the Second AIF. In this newsreel footage, we see troops, World War I veterans and police marching…

Anzac Day in Thailand

Just before dawn a few shadowy forms gathered on the road [at 75-Kilo camp, Burma].

Anzac Day Posters 2011 (Poster)

70th Anniversary of the Battles for Greece and Crete The poster features an image of four Australian soldiers at the Acropolis while on leave in Athens. The soldiers arrived in Greece in time to see…

Anzac Day Posters 2012 (Poster)

70th anniversary of the bombing of Darwin On 19 February 1942, Japanese aircraft bombed Darwin, killing hundreds of service personnel and civilians. This was the first of a series of almost 100…

Anzac Day Posters 2013 (Poster)

During World War II almost 10,000 Australian prisoners of war worked on the construction of the Burma–Thailand Railway in appalling physical conditions. Construction of the notorious Hellfire Pass…

Armoured fighting vehicles - Australian made! (Video)

Army Salvage (Video)

Army: Victory in the Pacific Day Poster 2020 (Poster)

We've created this poster to commemorate those who served in the Australian Army, the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and the Citizen Military Forces (militia) during World War II. For more than 5…

Arnold Alexander Lockyer

Deeply regret to inform you that your husband 80471 Sergeant Arnold Alexander Lockyer is missing but believed to have lost his life as a result of air operations. Stop.

Around the clock at American Service Club (Video)

Story of an American recreation centre in Melbourne, Vic.

Arthur Gould (Oral history)

Arthur James Murch

Early life Arthur Murch was born on 8 July 1902 in the Sydney suburb of Croydon.

Arthur Loudon - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Arthur Loudon - World War II veteran (Video)

Arthur Loudon enlisted into the Royal Australian Air Force in January 1943 at the age of 19

Arthur Roden Cutler

Sir Arthur Roden Cutler is remembered for his lifelong military, diplomatic and community service.

Arthur Seaforth Blackburn

Early lifeArthur Seaforth Blackburn was born in Walkerville, South Australia, in November 1892. He was the youngest of 7 children.

Arthur Stanley Gurney

West Australian, Arthur Stanley Gurney, embarked for the Middle East in July 1941. He was killed in action 12 months later.

Atom Bomb Damage, Hiroshima (Video)

ATOMIC BOMB—A Terrible Weapon (1945) newsclip (Image)

This article tells us about the fear caused by the use of atomic bombs on the Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the Second World War. You can use newspapers as a primary source in research to…

Audio commentaries

Recollections of Japanese treatment.

Aussies Arrive In Britain (1940) newsreel (Video)

In December 1940, the first Australian aircrews trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) began to arrive in Britain. In this newsreel footage, we see Australian EATS graduates arriving at…

Aussies evacuate Tobruk (Video)

Australia Aids Coastal Watch AKA Flying Boat Patrols (1940) newsreel (Video)

No 10 Squadron RAAF served in the United Kingdom from the start of the war. It participated in the Battle of the Atlantic and played a vital role in defending the British coast throughout the war.…

Australia and America Drive Japanese from Lae! (1943) newsreel (Video)

This United News footage records the opening of the Allied attack on Japanese forces at Lae, New Guinea. This is where Australian ground troops met with American paratroopers to help secure the area…

Australia and the Second World War

In May and June 1942 the war was brought home to Australians on the east coast when the Japanese attacked Sydney Harbour from the sea.

Australia helps Russia prepare for winter (Video)

Sheep skins shipped to Russia to help clothe Soviet troops

Australia under attack 1940-1945

The Japanese first attacked the Australian mainland on 19 February 1942 when they launched a devastating air raid on Darwin in the Northern Territory

Australia Under Attack lesson (Online lesson), (Worksheet), (Educational)

This self-contained lesson helps secondary students learn about wartime attacks on Australia in 1942 and 1943. Students explore the historical context, key events and the impact of the attacks on…

Australia Under Attack: In Their Own Words (Online lesson), (Video), (Student activity), (Educational)

How would you feel if Australia was under attack? Hear from 5 Australians about their experiences of the air and naval attacks in World War II.
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