Australian Imperial Force

1939: Paths to Victory in the Second World War

Australia's response to war

1940: Paths to Victory in the Second World War

Australia's military plans

Animals in the military during World War I

Camels Camels can travel long distances with heavy loads, through hot dry country. Before motorised transport was available, camels were useful for exploration and work in arid regions.

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…

Australian Army Nursing Service in World War I

Australian military nurses served far from home, caring for the sick and wounded on land and sea. Their skills saved many lives.

Australian Flying Corps in World War I

Australian planes and crews flew in the Middle East from 1915 to 1918 and in Europe from 1916 until they returned home after the war, in May 1919.

Australian Light Horse in World War I

Before the war Mounted troops had been part of Australia's home defence scheme since the 1890s, mostly as volunteers in rifle clubs.

Australian military organisation during World War I

Preparation for war When the UK declared war on Germany, Australia was poorly prepared to join the fight.

Australian signallers in World War I

Australians From Balikpapau (1945) newsreel (Video)

Newsreel footage of Australian Imperial Force (AIF) soldiers on Borneo. This would have been shown at cinemas throughout Australia.

Australians' Big Part in Syria newsclip (Image)

British Troops Back From Greece (1941) newsreel (Video)

On 6 April 1941, German forces attacked both Greece and Yugoslavia. Some 58,000 allied troops, including two-thirds of the Australian 6th Division, were transported from Africa to help the Greek army…

Charles Bean's first report from Gallipoli 1915

The first report Australia's Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, made the first report of the Anzac landing by Australia's official war correspondent,

Charles Edwin Woodrow Bean

Charles Edwin Woodrow (CEW) Bean, historian and journalist, was born on 18 November 1879 in Bathurst, where his father was headmaster of All Saints' College.

Cultural diversity in Australia's forces during World War I

Barriers to enlistment Most recruitment officers enforced strict enlistment standards in 1914 and 1915.

Damien Parer: Stories of Service (Video)

In the 21st century, it's easier than ever to find media coverage of conflicts. Technology allows us to record skirmishes and make stories available to millions of people. In the Second World War,…

Enlisting in the Australian forces during World War I

Preparation for war When the United Kingdom (UK) declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, nations in the British Empire followed willingly.

Evacuation from Gallipoli 1915

Situation on Gallipoli After August, the British mounted no further major attacks at Gallipoli. The British Government grew alarmed at the failure to break through to the Dardanelles.

FALL OF SINGAPORE newsclip (Image)

First Australian Imperial Force in World War I

Before the war Australia's Regular Army was a young evolving force when war broke out.

First convoy of Australian troops in World War I

Setting off for Europe The first contingent of soldiers destined for the war in Europe left Western Australia on 1 November 1914.

Gallipoli Campaign 1915

Background to the campaign By early 1915, the Allies were in a deadlock with Germany on the Western Front, and the Russian army was struggling in the east.

Gordon Wallace: Stories of Service (Video)

Gordon Wallace enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1940. He went on to serve in North Africa and New Guinea during the Second World War. This tells the story of Gordon's service…

Jim Vane - Life aboard a ship (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Fighting between US and Australian troops (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Landing and trading with Americans (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Sandakan Death March survivors (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - The outbreak of war (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Air Training Corps (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Recruitment (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Discipline (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Leave (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Troop train to Townsville (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Jim Vane - Travelling through the Coral Sea (Video)

Jim Vane enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces on 4 April 1942.

Medical treatment of Australian soldiers in World War I

Illnesses and devastating injuries The Australian Government recorded 215,585 casualties during the war.

Mesopotamia Campaign 1915 to 1918

British-led forces seize Basra Britain tried to secure Persian oilfields controlled by the Ottoman Empire after the Turks allied with Germany.

Nursery trenches at Armentières 1916

Quieter times in the early days

Rats of Tobruk (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…

Reginald Saunders: Stories of Service (Video)

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.

Shaggy Ridge (1944) newsreel (Video)

Newsreel footage of conditions at Shaggy Ridge in New Guinea shows the steepness and harshness of the terrain in which Australian troops were fighting. This would have been shown at cinemas…

SLV an011330 (Image)

Structure of Australia's forces in World War I

Forces for wartime service Australia responded quickly to the early telegram warnings from the United Kingdom (UK), by:

The War in Libya Bardia (1941) newsreel (Video)

On 3 January 1941, the 6th Australian Division attacked and broke through the Italian defences at Bardia in Libya. Fighting lasted until the morning of 5 January. The attack cost the 6th Division 130…

Third Battle of Ypres 31 July to 10 November 1917

Maps of the campaign

Training Australian army recruits during World War I

Outbreak of war When the war began, Australia's military forces included:

Weary Dunlop: Stories of Service - the Second World War (Video)

Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop's story is one of care, compassion, hardship and suffering. Weary enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force after studying medicine. This tells his story as an army doctor…

William Riddell Birdwood

The 'soul of Anzac'
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