About the Collections

Military Heraldry and Technology

The military heraldry collection contains an extensive collections of uniforms, honours and awards, medals, flags, decorations, and insignia illustrating Australia's military history. Among these collections are regimental colours and uniforms from old and famous regiments, the nation's largest publicly accessible collection of Victoria Crosses, and the honours and awards of many of the wartime leaders. Items from recent wars and peacekeeping activities are included, and there is also an extensive range of enemy and allied forces' material. In addition, the military heraldry collection contains the Memorial's collection of battlefield relics some of which were collected by C.E.W. Bean and by others charged with this activity in two world wars.

The military technology collection comprises tens of thousands of items, ranging in size from a surgical needle to a four-engined bomber. It includes Australian, enemy and allied material. Most objects were collected on the Memorial's behalf during wartime, or have been donated or purchased since. The objects include aircraft, vehicles, vessels, communications equipment, weapons, models, meteorological equipment, medical instruments, cameras, and optical devices.

The Military Heraldry and Technology collection can be searched using the Collection Search database. Descriptions and photographs of over 7,000 heraldry and technology can be found in the database.