Content on World War II 1939-1945

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

Rationing Commission question and answer session (Audio)

A question and answer session about rationing and coupons? This radio broadcast excerpt from the Rationing Commission answers a question about sugar rationing.

Rationing Commission radio broadcast (Audio)

A radio broadcast presented by the Rationing Commission to the workers of Australia

Rats of Tobruk short film (Video)

We captured the reflections of six Australian veterans who served in North Africa in World War II and survived the siege of Tobruk in 1941. Bob Semple, Ernie Brough, Hautrie Crick, Jack Caple, Jim…

Rawdon Hume Middleton

Australian pilot Rawdon Hume ‘Ron’ Middleton was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross (VC) for his heroic actions in November 1942.

Ray Parkin (Oral history)

Ray Parkin speaks about how, through his drawing and painting, he could share the beauty of nature with other prisoners in the jungles of Thailand.

Ray survived eight days on the run from the Japanese

Flying Officer Ray Graetz was a wireless operator/air gunner on a bombing and strafing mission with eight other Beauforts over Wewak in May 1944 when his plane was shot down by enemy gunfire.

Rayene Stewart Simpson

Rayene 'Ray' Simpson was a highly-decorated and experienced soldier who served in 4 major conflicts. He was fearless, did not always follow the rules and 'knew every swear word in the book'.

Recovering Australia's war dead in Burma and Thailand

The first [cemetery] with 146 graves had sufficient of the original crosses still legible for location to be simple … The cholera cemetery was hard to find … Finally … we

Red Shield on the Battlefront (Video)

This silent film shot by war photographer and cinematographer Frank Hurley in 1942 presents images of the Salvation Army in the Western Desert. [AWM F01827]

Reflections on Enlistment in World War II: In Their Own Words (Online lesson), (Video), (Student activity), (Educational)

Have you ever wondered why people enlisted in World War II? Find out from these 6 veterans.

Refugees on Labuan Island (Video)

The fighting on Labuan Island off North West Borneo displaced many of the local residents. They were not only homeless but many were malnourished and in appalling health by August 1945 when the…

Reginald Roy Inwood

Reginald Roy Rattey

Reginald Saunders: Stories of Service (Online lesson), (Video), (Student activity), (Educational)

Reginald Walter Saunders was from the Gunditjmara people of southern Victoria. His father and uncle had served in the First World War, which motivated Reg to enlist in the Second Australian Imperial…

Reginald Walter Saunders

Reg Saunders survived 11 months on the enemy-occupied island of Crete. He later served in the Korean War and championed Indigenous equality after the war.

Release of Indian POWs (Video)

Remembering Australian POWs and the Burma-Thailand Railway

Australian memoriesIn the decades since 1945, prisoners of war (POWs) and the Burma-Thailand Railway occupied a central pla

'Remembering the Kokoda track' (Video)

Remembrance Day Kitbag for hosting a commemorative event (Fact sheet)

Host resources for a Remembrance Day service. Our kitbag includes a suggested order of service with flag protocols, music, sample speeches, the Ode of Remembrance and craft activities for children.…

Remembrance Day poster 2024 (Poster)

We've created this poster to commemorate Remembrance Day in 2024. Our poster features an Australian Army Officer wearing a yarn poppy on their shoulder as a symbol of remembrance. The poppy…

Remembrance Day Posters 2011 (Poster)

A commemorative poster was produced for the centenary of the Royal Australian Navy. The poster features a central image of an unidentified Petty Officer who had served at least three years at sea…

Researching the Second World War worksheet (Educational), (Worksheet), (Online lesson)

Students apply research skills to learn more about a topic of interest from World War II.

Resource: Stories of innovation in wartime (Book), (Educational)

This commemorative publication is a part of the series; Century of Service. It explores examples of Australian wartime innovation. Many of these occurred in laboratories, offices and homes and on the…

Rex Lipman - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Rex Lipman - World War II veteran (Video)

Rex Lipman AO AM joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) soon after war was declared in 1939.

Richard Kelliher

Irish-born Richard Kelliher won his Victoria Cross (VC) for saving the life of an injured fellow soldier.

Richard Saunders - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Richard Saunders - World War II veteran (Video)

At the outbreak of the war, Richard Saunders was serving as an acting intelligence officer with the 45th Infantry Battalion (re-raised as a militia unit in 1921).

Robert Goodwin - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Robert Goodwin - World War II veteran (Video)

Robert 'Bob' Molesworth Goodwin OAM was an insurance clerk in Brisbane before he enlisted in July 1940 with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

Ron Barassi, former AFL player, father was killed while serving in Tobruk (Audio)

The 3-nine-39 radio and video series tells the untold stories of veterans, widows and family members from the Second World War.

Ron Barassi, former AFL player, father was killed while serving in Tobruk video (Oral history)

AFL legend Ron Barassi talks about his father who enlisted in the Second World War

Ron Clarke - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Ron Clarke - World War II veteran (Video)

Ron Clarke enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 26 February 1941 at South Burnie, Tasmania.

Bill Purdy and Ron Houghton - World War II veterans (Video)

Dr Ron Houghton joined the RAAF Reserve in 1941 and enlisted in May 1942

Ross Pearson - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Ross Pearson - World War II veteran (Video)

Ross Pearson enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in October 1942 at the age of 19.

Roy Cecil Hodgkinson

Early LifeRoy Hodgkinson was born in Sydney in 1911.

Roy Cornford - World War II veteran (Oral history)

Roy Cornford - World War II veteran (Video)

Roy Cornford, a 19-year-old labourer, enlisted into the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in September 1941

Royal Australian Air Force 1941-1945 (Book)

This commemorative publication is a part of the series; Australians in the Pacific War. It explores the history of the Royal Australian Air Force between 1941-1945.  

Royal Australian Navy 1939-1945 (Book)

This commemorative publication is a part of the series; Australians in the Pacific War. It explores the history of the Royal Australian Navy between 1939-1945. 

Royal Australian Navy in the Atlantic and Mediterranean (Book)

This commemorative publication is a part of the series; Australians in World War II. This resource focuses on the Australians who sailed in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). It tells the story of…

Ruins of Baalbek (Video)

Some extraordinary shots of Australian troops sightseeing amongst the ruins at Baalbek, Syria (now, Lebanon).

Salamua (Video)

Australian and US troops around Roosevelt Ridge in the Mubo-Salamua area. The film contains images of Corporal Leslie Allan, MM. August 1943.

Samuel Fejo

Early life Samuel 'Smiler' Fejo was born in or near Darwin, on Larrakia Country, in about 1901. His parents were King Charles and Bessie.

Sanananda and Buna from the air (Video)

Sandakan 1942-1945 (Book)

Sapper Bill Rudd (Oral history)

Bill Rudd was a sapper with the 2/7th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers in the 9th Australian Division at El Alamein. In this interview excerpt he discusses the night of 26-27 July 1942 when…

Sapper recalls years fighting in New Guinea

Sapper Bill Stanbury had an eventful war. It started off badly in December 1942 when, after being refused pre-embarkation leave, he went Absent Without Leave, in a bid to see his wife as she was…
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