Research & Resources

Defence and war service records

The National Archives’ extraordinary collection of records about Australia’s defence and war efforts will help you learn more about your family’s war history, support your academic research, or commemorate ex-service members.

Australian War Memorial

Learn about Australia’s involvement in war, from the time of the first settlement at Sydney Cove in the 18th century to our peacekeeping roles under United Nations auspices. Explore, learn and stay connected with digital content from the Memorial and its world class museum. Explore ‘Places of Pride’, an Australian War Memorial initiative to record the location and photos of every war memorial across the country.

WWII Nominal Roll

The World War Two Nominal Roll honours and commemorates some one million people who served in Australia’s defence forces and the Merchant Navy during the period 3 September 1939 to 2 September 1945.

The Nominal Roll is an index of information that provides a ‘snapshot’ of individual service gathered from service records.

You can search for an individual’s World War Two service details, print a commemorative certificate, provide feedback, and print a permission letter to use a service badge for commemorative purposes.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission honours and cares for the men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars, ensuring they will never be forgotten. Funded by six Member Governments, our work began with building, and now maintaining, cemeteries at 23,000 locations all over the world.