Lyla Lindsey
If you're looking to find someone in the Australian Army, there are a few ways to go about it. The National Archives of Australia holds records of service in the Australian armed forces dating back to 1901, including digitised Army service records for World War I that can be viewed online. The National Archives also holds the RAAF service records from 1921 onwards and other records related to wartime service and defence. The Australian War Memorial holds Australian Naval Force engagement and service records from 1903 to 1911, as well as Merchant Navy Record of Service cards for those who served on Australian merchant vessels. The Australian National University's Australian Dictionary of Biography is another useful resource, providing biographical information on eminent Australians who served in the armed forces.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Quickest way to search for a family member's service record | Record as much information as possible, including full name, date of birth, service number, and any other official or personal documents |
| Where to find service records | National Archives of Australia, National Archives in Canberra, state government archives, and the Defence website |
| Useful resources | Australian National University's Australian Dictionary of Biography, ABC-DVA joint production Gallipoli: The First Day, National Anzac Centre, Anzac Portal, National Archives' research guide The Boer War: Australians and the War in South Africa, 1899-1902 |
| Types of records | Identity photographs, Merchant Navy Record of Service cards, Navy service cards, Army service records, First World War service records, RAAF service records |
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What You'll Learn
Use the National Archives of Australia, which holds records from 1901
The National Archives of Australia, based in Canberra, contains records of service in the Australian armed forces, dating principally from Federation in 1901. The National Archives has repositories in each state and territory.
The National Archives of Australia RecordSearch lets you access many defence service records. You might find the person's war service records, including original handwritten signatures. Records might contain attestation forms, deployment details, and miscellaneous correspondence on each individual's service. The National Archives also holds the DVA Repatriation Department Case Files in its state repositories. Some veteran records have been digitised and can be viewed online, including Navy service cards for 1911-1970 and Army service records for the First World War. Second World War service records are also held by the NAA. Around 40% of World War II Army and Air Force service records include an identity photograph.
You can apply for post–Second World War service records through the National Archives. Merchant Navy Record of Service cards for people who served on Australian merchant vessels are held on microfilm in the NAA Canberra office. The cards are arranged by family name and give some personal information, the name of ships, and dates of service.
The National Library of Australia's comprehensive Trove website gives access to over 600 million Australian and online resources, including books, images, historic newspapers, maps, and archives.
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Consult the National Anzac Centre for WWI records
If you are looking for the WWI records of someone who was in the Australian Army, the National Anzac Centre is a good place to start. The centre, affiliated with the Australian War Memorial, sits above King George Sound in Albany, Western Australia, and commemorates over 41,000 Australians and New Zealanders who departed Western Australia in late 1914 in two large convoys of over 50 ships.
The National Archives of Australia (NAA) holds First World War service records, relating primarily to members of the First Australian Imperial Force. The NAA's Discovering Anzacs website allows researchers to explore government records about soldiers, munitions workers, nurses, conscription, internment, wartime copyright and patents, defence correspondence, and more. The website aims to have a unique profile of every Anzac who enlisted in World War One, linked to their official service record. You can also search for service records through the NAA's online database RecordSearch, which provides details of service number, military unit, battles and campaigns involved in, injuries, and disembarkation.
The Australian War Memorial's website also includes searchable databases, such as First World War Embarkation Rolls, which can be searched by name, unit, or place of embarkation, and the First World War Nominal Roll, which includes details of AIF personnel who served overseas.
In addition to the NAA and Australian War Memorial, the UK National Archives holds British Army service records from World War One, and the State Library of NSW holds over 500 World War One diary and letter collections, many of which have been transcribed from handwritten entries.
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Check the Australian Dictionary of Biography for notable figures
The Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB or AuDB) is a useful resource for learning about notable figures in the Australian Army. Founded and maintained by the Australian National University (ANU), the ADB contains authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history, including those who served in the armed forces.
The ADB was initially published by Melbourne University Press in twelve hard-copy volumes between 1966 and 2005. Since 2006, it has been published online by the National Centre of Biography (NCB) at ANU. The NCB also publishes Obituaries Australia (OA), which contains scanned copies of obituaries and other biographical material, including links to important digitised records such as war service records, ASIO files, and oral history interviews.
The ADB is particularly useful for researching people who were prominent in Australia and have since died. For example, those who served in the Australian armed forces or the Australian Defence Force (ADF) from 1914 to the present. Additionally, the National Archives of Australia contains records of service in the Australian armed forces, mainly from 1901, and the NCB's OA may provide additional biographical information for individuals.
The National Archives is based in Canberra, with repositories in each state and territory. You can access digitised records online or request physical copies for a small fee. The Archives hold records for those who served in the Australian armed forces during World War I and World War II, with some records including identity photographs.
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View digitised records online via the National Archives
The National Archives of Australia, based in Canberra, contains records of service in the Australian armed forces, dating principally from Federation in 1901. The National Archives has digitised Navy service cards for 1911-1970 and Army service records for the First World War. These can be viewed online on RecordSearch.
If a soldier served in both the First and Second World Wars, the record has usually been amalgamated in the Second World War service record. Second World War service records are held by the National Archives of Australia (NAA). For information regarding viewing or obtaining copies of these records, visit the National Archives Service Records page.
You can apply for post–Second World War service records through the National Archives. The Merchant Navy Record of Service cards for people who served on Australian merchant vessels are held on microfilm in the NAA Canberra office. The cards are arranged by family name and give some personal information, the name of ships, and dates of service.
The National Archives also holds the DVA Repatriation Department Case Files in its state repositories. Some veteran records have been digitised. Records include returned soldiers' hospital, medical and pension files so they can be quite voluminous. Around 40% of World War II Army and Air Force service records include an identity photograph. Most Navy and World War I Army service records don't include photos.
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Submit DNA to the Australian Army UWC-A unit
To find someone in the Australian Army, you can start by gathering as much information as possible, including the person's full name, date of birth, and service number. Official and personal documents can be useful for this process. The National Archives of Australia contains records of service in the Australian Armed Forces dating back to 1901. Additionally, the Australian National University's Australian Dictionary of Biography can provide biographical information on eminent Australians who served in the armed forces.
If you are specifically looking to submit DNA to the Australian Army UWC-A (Unrecovered War Casualties) unit to help identify unidentified remains, you can do so by submitting a UWC-A online form. The UWC-A unit will record your details and contact you if human remains are found that may potentially be a relative. However, registering does not guarantee that DNA will be requested.
The UWC-A unit plays a crucial role in helping to identify soldiers who went missing in action, such as those who fought in the Battle of Fromelles. Relatives are invited to provide DNA samples to assist in this process, offering a chance for families to find closure.
In addition to the UWC-A unit, there are other resources available for researching Australian military records. The Anzac Portal provides information on individual veterans who served in the Australian armed forces or the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Roll of Honour database contains personal particulars, unit information, and dates of death, while the Australian War Memorial collection holds Official Histories, Rolls, and Unit Diaries. The National Library of Australia's Trove website also offers access to a wealth of resources, including books, images, historic newspapers, maps, and archives.
By utilising these resources and submitting DNA to the UWC-A unit when relevant, you can increase your chances of finding someone in the Australian Army or gaining information about their service.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Archives of Australia holds records of service in the Australian armed forces, dating back to Federation in 1901. The National Archives has digitised Army service records for the First World War, which can be viewed online. For more recent records, the Department of Defence's Access to Service Records guide provides information on how to access certain classes of records.
The quickest way to search for a family member's service record is to gather as much information as possible, including their full name, date of birth, and service number. Both official and personal documents can be useful.
The National Archives holds RAAF service records from when it was established in 1921 and also has repositories in each state and territory. Around 40% of World War II Army and Air Force service records include an identity photograph.
The National Archives' research guide, The Boer War: Australians and the War in South Africa, 1899-1902, provides advice on where to find Boer War records. Colonial period records are held in state government archives, while post-Federation records are held by the National Archives of Australia.
The Australian National University's Australian Dictionary of Biography provides biographical information about eminent Australians who served in the armed forces or were major political figures during wartime.
