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Find your ancestor in key collections
From Service Records to Electoral Rolls, uncover what role your ancestors played - from wartime to day-to-day.

Dive deeper into wartime life
In these unique collections, you'll be able to view what life was like for prisoners of war or as a woman pioneering women's involvement in the war.

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Australians and New Zealanders often appear in wartime collections from other countries. You can isolate your search by including a country as a keyword.

Find your ancestor in key collections
From Service Records to Electoral Rolls, uncover what role your ancestors played during times of war, whether it be on the frontline or the home front.

Dive deeper into life during war
Consider what life was like for prisoners of war, or a woman pioneering for women's involvement in the war in unique collections.

Discover even more
Australians and New Zealanders often appear in wartime collections from other countries, therefore you can isolate your search by including a country as a keyword.

Explore key wartime collections

© National Archives of Australia

© National Archives of Australia

© National Archives of Australia

Australia, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920

Australia, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920

Dive into service dossiers for Australians who served in WWI in selected units where you can find the age of enlistment, employment and more. Records also include personnel who served in Australia, rather than overseas.

Dive into service dossiers for Australians who served in WWI in selected units where you can find the age of enlistment, employment and more. Records also include personnel who served in Australia, rather than overseas.

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© the State Library of Queensland

© the State Library of Queensland

© the State Library of Queensland

Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945

Australia, World War II Military Service Records, 1939-1945

These records set out the essentials of a person’s service in the forces and were used to manage the movements and pay of their personnel. With this collection, you'll find prior military service, details of illnesses, injuries and more.

These records set out the essentials of a person’s service in the forces and were used to manage the movements and pay of their personnel. With this collection, you'll find prior military service, details of illnesses, injuries and more.

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Free access to 62 million records
© North Ryde, N.S.W. : The
Spirits of Gallipoli

© North Ryde, N.S.W. : The
Spirits of Gallipoli

© North Ryde, N.S.W. : The
Spirits of Gallipoli

Australia, Applications to Enlist
in the AIF, 1915-1918

Australia, Applications to Enlist in the AIF, 1915-1918

Explore attestation papers for applications to the Australian Imperial Force. Some records were typed out but some were handwritten. Browse and see if any papers have your ancestors' handwriting.

Explore attestation papers for applications to the Australian Imperial Force. Some records were typed out but some were handwritten. Browse and see if any papers have your ancestors' handwriting.

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© State Records
Authority NSW

© State Records
Authority NSW

© State Records
Authority NSW

Australia, Army Militia Service Records, 1901-1940

Australia, Army Militia Service Records, 1901-1940

These records provide valuable information for researching your family member's military service. Including birthplace, service number, military service start and end date.

These records provide valuable information for researching your family member's military service. Including birthplace, service number, military service start and end date.

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© Hulton Archives/Getty Images

© Hulton Archives/Getty Images

© Hulton Archives/Getty Images

New Zealand, World War I
Service Records, 1914‑1920

New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914‑1920

These records contain information such as transfers, punishments, medals received and medical history.

These records contain information such as transfers, punishments, medals received and medical history.

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© Hulton Archives/Getty Images

© Hulton Archives/Getty Images

© Hulton Archives/Getty Images

New Zealand, World War II Army Nominal Rolls, 1939-1948

New Zealand, World War II Army Nominal Rolls, 1939‑1948

This unique collection was the first to be released from New Zealand and includes the names of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Learn about your ancestors' embarkation date, rank, next of kin and more.

This unique collection was the first to be released from New Zealand and includes the names of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Learn about your ancestors' embarkation date, rank, next of kin and more.

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online record collection

WWII Soldier Rex Kropp

Rex Kropp, born in 1920, in Villeneuve, Queensland, enlisted in WWII in 1940. Our records show his handwritten accounts of how he was both captured and imprisoned during his service in Greece. His prisoner-of-war record recounts how he escaped to the mountains and sought refuge with a family that supplied him with information and food in exchange for his labour. Soviet soldiers then captured Rex but later released him and he finally made his way back home. He later married and had two children and four grandchildren. Rex died aged 64 in 1984.

Explore the records for yourself to discover fascinating stories like Rex's. What could you learn about one of your ancestors?

See Rex's record

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