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Researching a person

Researching a person

The Memorial's collections and website contain a wealth of material which can help you research the service and wartime experiences of relatives who served in Australia's military forces during conflict.

Collection Item C1177995

Accession Number: P05555.015

Composite group portrait of Mary and Henry Hutchins, of Woorinen North, Vic, and seven enlisted sons

Research a person
Online

Getting started

Gather together what you already know about the person you are researching. For example:

  • Who are you researching?
  • What do you know about them?
  • What do you know about their service?

What other details can you find? You can

  • Ask family members what they know
  • See if the family has any wartime memorabilia that may include information
  • Investigate local sources such as a library or historical society

Many Commonwealth official records, photographs, diaries and letters can be found in our digital collection.

You can submit your relative’s personal or service details and research question using the form below.
We aim to respond to online enquiries within 10 working days. 

Ask a military family history question
Ask

Research guides

Researching Australian military service

  • Researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander military service
  • Researching names on an honour board
  • Local information sources about Australians at war
  • New Zealand, 1860
  • Sudan, 1885
  • South African War (Boer War), 1899-1902
  • First World War, 1914-1918
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
  • British Commonwealth Occupation Force, 1945-1952
  • Malayan Emergency, 1950-1960
  • Korean War, 1950-1953
  • Indonesian Confrontation, 1963-1966
  • Vietnam War, 1962-1975
  • Peacekeeping
  • First Gulf War, 1990-1991
  • East Timor, 1999-2003
  • Afghanistan, 2001-
  • Iraq, 2003-2009

Personal service records (dossiers)

Personal service records are files created for individuals during their military careers. Service records are held in the country of the force with whom your individual served, for example, Royal Australian Air Force records are held in Australia and Royal Air Force records are held in the United Kingdom.

  • Personal service records: Australian service
  • Personal service records: countries other than Australia

Medals

  • Military honours and awards to Australians
  • Campaign and service medals

Prisoners of War and civilian internees

  • First World War: Australian prisoners of war
  • Second World War: Australian prisoners of war in Europe
  • Second World War: Australian prisoners of the Japanese
  • Civilian internees in Australia

Unit histories

  • Researching the history of a unit

Maps

  • Finding First World War maps: Gallipoli
  • Finding First World War maps: Western Front
  • Reading map references: First World War, Western Front

Guide to recording oral histories

Oral histories can be a valuable resource for personal use, interest or reference. The Memorial receives many nominations for oral history interview, and it is not possible to meet every request. The Memorial has created this guide as a way to help people to conduct interviews with veterans.
  • Portable Document FormatDownload guide to recording oral histories [684.6 kB PDF]

Last updated: 28 January 2022

Explore the Collection

Explore the Collection

Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces.

Find out more
The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

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The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

Find out more
Visit the Australian War Memorial

Visit the Australian War Memorial

The Australian War Memorial is open for visitors as we work to expand our galleries. All visitors require a free timed ticket to enter the Memorial Galleries and attend the Last Post Ceremony.

Find out more
Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
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The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
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The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

 

In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony,

galleries are progressively closed from 4 pm.

 

Public entrance via Fairbairn Avenue, Campbell ACT 2612

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