Highlight on official records of the First World War: AWM251 &AWM256 AIF Administrative Headquarters, 1914-18 War
Highlight on the official records of the First World War is a centenary program of posts highlighting those records created 100 years ago, why they exist and how we can help make these essential records available for research purposes.
Function and provenance
In May 1916, the AIF Intermediate Base moved from Cairo to London and amalgamated with existing infrastructure there to form Administrative Headquarters, AIF (under the control of the High Commissioner for Australia – see Post No.8 of the First World War Centenary blogs).
Part of Central Registry operations were led by 472 Warrant Officer Ballhausen, who had joined the AIF on 27 August 1914 with the 1st Light Horse Regiment. The physical premises were located in a large hall at 130 Horseferry Rd, Westminster (London). The staff was composed mainly of female clerks, the men being required for front line duty.
The Headquarters' Central Registry was supported by several sub-registries, each being allocated a block of primary numbers for its own records.
Content
- AWM251
Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, "A" (Adjutant-General's) Branch, Australian Flying Corps record surname, initials, rank, regimental number of AFC personnel (including officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks) (cards M-Q and F are missing).
File references on many cards include additional service details, for example application for transfer to the AFC, commissioning, training, graduation, posting, promotion, mess accounts, casualty, disciplinary action, application for non-military employment, leave, discharge, return to Australia.
- AWM256
Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, Deputy Adjutant-General's Branch files are a collection of records describing counts filed against the AIF abroad.
Charges leading to court martial of persons referred to in AWM256 include absent without leave, desertion, drunkenness, forgery, refusal to obey orders, conduct prejudicial to good order, insubordinate language, assault, falsification of pay book, making a false statement, failure to embark for return to Australia. Sentences imposed included being cashiered, dismissal from service, loss of precedence of rank, reprimand or censure.
System of arrangement and control
- AWM251
The "A" (Adjutant-General's) Branch sub-registry, responsible for mainly personnel-related matters, was allocated primary numbers in the range 4301-4345. Each number corresponded with a broad subject category. The main series of "A" Branch files (AWM10) was heavily culled in 1959. However, extant files relating to the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) have the primary number 4343, matching file references in (and establishing their relationship with) the present series of name index cards.
- AWM256
The Deputy Adjutant-General's (DAG) Branch sub-registry was allocated primary numbers in the range 1/- to 200/-. It can be assumed that, like the Adjutant-General's Branch records (AWM10), the DAG records were returned to Australia in early 1920. Some 22 cases of the records were transferred to the Australian War Memorial in March 1931, but have since been heavily culled (possibly in 1959).
Only files with the primary number 17/- have been retained, and even this class appears to have also been culled. Extant files relate to courts martial of officers (mainly those with the rank of lieutenant, and including some persons with military decorations) of the AIF. A few files relate to non-commissioned officers and other ranks.
Several files in the residue comprising AWM256 indicate that top-numbering was fairly common, both within the same class (for example, 17/1/3 to 17/1/29, 17/1/112 to 17/1/148) and from another class (for example, 17/1/88 from 20/2/109, 17/1/161 from 47/2/128).
Most documents carry a DAG stamp. For those dating from mid-February 1919 the stamp is that of the Assistant Military Secretary (AMS), reflecting administrative change in the latter stages of repatriation and demobilisation.
Using the series
With regard to AWM251 the majority of names on the cards appear to relate to AFC members and coincide with information on the nominal roll. It can be assumed that, like other "A" Branch records, the cards were returned to Australia in early 1920, and transferred to the Australian War Memorial in March 1931.
This series is available to search by using the National Archives of Australia online database, RecordSearch
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