Memorial Articles
The Memorial boasts a staff of subject specialists in all aspects of military history and museum practice.
Our articles and our Encyclopedia allow subject specialists to share their knowledge on Australian military history.
They also provide a way for us to take a closer look at the people and the stories behind the history and our museum collection.
‘An upright, sterling character’ Sergeant Douglas Bernard Matthew Adams, 10 Battalion, AIF
During my first visit to Gallipoli in May 1996, in Beach Cemetery I chanced upon a grave of a 10th Battalion digger who had been a sergeant when he died of wounds at the age of 18 in early July 1915. The epitaph on the grave, “A bright young life sacrificed on the altar of duty. So dearly loved”, struck a chord with me, as I was only a few years older than he had been.
For Australia’s Heroes – the other ‘Australia Day’, 30 July 1915.
While most of us associate Australia Day with 26 January, in 1915 that date was celebrated as Foundation Day and only in New South Wales, as each of the colonies had their own commemorations for their founding. During the First World War, the concept of a national ‘Australia Day’ was instead part of a wider fundraising plan where money was raised by declaring a special ‘day’ on which events such as auctions, stalls, performances and street collections were held to encourage the community to contribute to the war effort.
Happy 5th birthday, Flickr Commons
Explore a set of photos from our collection showing celebrations at the end of the two World Wars.
Summer programs at the Memorial
Things are starting to heat up in the Capital which can only mean that summer is well underway and the New Year is approaching fast. The Memorial has some exciting activities planned for the summer holidays for visitors. You can find details about these programs in our new Summer Brochure.
Christmas messages from the AWM collection
Listen to some of the Christmas messages recorded in 1942 by the ABC Field Recording Unit to be broadcast by radio stations in Australia.
For Active Service
Read about Private Frank Pendlebury, a soldier during the First World War, and the items donated to the Australian War Memorial