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 our historians, curators, librarians and exhibition team to share their knowledge and information on Australian military history, the Memorial's vast collection, recent acquisitions, exhibitions and events.
No Kum Sok: Defector from the North
On 21 September 1953, 21 year old pilot, Lieutenant No Kum Sok threw a photograph of North Korean leader Kim Il Sung to the ground and put his hands up. He is thought to be the first North Korean military defector after the end of the war.
Debunking the story of Giles and Bean
It has long been believed that the muddy and torn uniform of Private George Giles was acquired by Charles Bean, but recent research into the event has cast some doubt.
“Operation Menace”- the story of HMAS Australia in African waters.
The end of September marks the 80th anniversary of the battle of Dakar. Also known as “Operation Menace”, this operation was endeavoured to be peaceful, with the aim of placing General Charles de Gaulle in leadership at Dakar.
Ask A Curator Day
Today - 16 September - is #AskACurator Day. We asked you to join in and ask us some questions. Today we have the answers.
'It was a real labour of love'
Seventy five years after the liberation of the Ramale internment camp in New Britain, Lisa Hilli, an Australian artist of Tolai heritage, shares the little known story of the 45 Daughters of Mary Immaculate, or F.M.I. Sisters, of the Vunapope Catholic Mission, who had helped save the lives of hundreds of men, women and children during the war.
75th anniversary of the liberation of Changi
Today - 5 September 2020 - marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Australian prisoners of war at Changi.
'If I had my time over, I'd do it all again'
Lloyd Birdsall remembers watching Japanese bombers flying overhead in New Guinea, and listening to the sounds of the planes as bombs fell from the sky.
'I’ve had opportunities that I could never dream of'
Oscar Comandari was five years old when his family fled war-torn El Salvador in the 1990s for a new life in Australia.