Chronological guide to official records - First World War

First World War (1914–18)

Records relating to the Australian military and naval forces during the First World War.

1) Unit and Operational Records

a) War diaries

AWM4 Australian Imperial Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War [related control series: AWM128]

AWM5 Australian Imperial Force unit war diary precis, 1914-18 War

  • Series prepared by the Australian War Records Section, based on the war diaries, to summarise units' operational activities. Arranged in two sequences - chronological and by unit.

AWM6 Mediterranean Expeditionary Force unit war diaries, 1914-18 War

b) Nominal rolls

AWM8 Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War

AWM9 Unit roll books, 1914-18 War

AWM133 Nominal roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad

AWM136 Nominal roll of deceased members of the Australian Imperial Force and the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

  • Series available in microform

AWM190 Nominal roll of Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

c) Other records

AWM7 Troopship records, 1914-18 War

AWM25 Written records, 1914-18 War [related control series: AWM228]

  • Series of files originally created by 1st AIF units. Covers a broad range of subjects and is a vital source for First World War research. Arranged and indexed by subject

AWM26 Operations files, 1914-18 War

  • Series consists of triplicate or spare copies of the war diaries and precis, plus papers extracted from written records and subject classified files. Arranged by operational period

AWM27 Records arranged according to AWM Library subject classification

  • Series of files and miscellaneous official papers from former donated records (DRL) accessions and other series. Covers a broad range of subjects

AWM33 New Guinea campaign records, 1914-18 War

AWM37 Records of 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train and HMNZT Willochra

AWM45 Copies of British war diaries and other records, 1914-18 War ("Heyes papers")

AWM46 Captured German documents, 1914-18 War

  • Series available in microform

AWM47 German records collected by Captain J J W Herbertson

AWM51 AWM security classified records

  • Series of unrelated items originally processed by the AWM Library as confidential for security, storage and access reasons. Several items, including European War Secret Telegrams series and UK Naval Staff Monographs, are located in the Printed Records collection.

AWM224 Unit manuscript histories

AWM246 Australian port defence charts

AWM326 Operations of the Australian Corps Heavy Artillery

AWM352 Miscellaneous records of the 2nd Pioneer Battalion, AIF

2) Administrative Records

AWM10 Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, "A" (Adjutant-General's Branch) files [related control series: AWM251]

AWM11 Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, "A" (Adjutant-General's Branch) medical (subject) files

AWM12 Australian Imperial Force Headquarters (London), Administrative registry medical/personal files

AWM13 Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, "Q" (Quartermaster-General's Branch) files

AWM14 Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, register of finance and medical files

AWM15 Australian Imperial Force Depots in the United Kingdom Headquarters (Salisbury Plain), Central registry files [related control series: AWM258 and AWM259]

AWM16 Australian War Records Section files and register of file titles [related control series: AWM17]

  • Series of correspondence files relating to the organisation and administration of the Australian War Records Section and, in particular, the receipt of historical material representing Australia's participation in the war

AWM18 Australian Imperial Force Administrative Headquarters registry, "Records Registry" files

AWM19 Australian Imperial Force Depots in the United Kingdom, Assistant Director of Education files, 1914-18 War

AWM20 Australian Imperial Force, Director of Education files, 1914-18 War

AWM21 Records of the Assistant Provost Marshal, 1914-18 War

AWM22 Australian Imperial Force Headquarters (Egypt), Central registry files

AWM23 Australian Records Section, General Headquarters 3rd Echelon and British Expeditionary Force (France) files [related control series: AWM24]

AWM25 Written records, 1914-18 War [related control series: AWM228]

  • Series of files originally created by 1st AIF units. Covers a broad range of subjects and is a vital source for 1914-18 War research. Arranged and indexed by subject.

AWM27 Records arranged according to AWM Library subject classification

  • Series of files and miscellaneous official papers from former donated records (DRL) accessions and other series. Covers a broad range of subjects.

AWM32 Australian Army Medical Corps files (Tait collection)

AWM34 2nd Military District records

AWM48 High Commissioner's Office, London, registry files, 1914-18 War

AWM51 AWM security classified records

  • Series of unrelated items originally processed by the AWM Library as confidential for security, storage and access reasons. Includes copies of the statements and evidence of the Dardanelles Commission

AWM90 Australian Service Canteens Organisation records

AWM184 AIF publications and ANZAC Book Trust Fund files ("Unit histories correspondence")

AWM194 Trophy files, 1914-18 War [related control series: AWM134]

AWM225 Records presented to the Australian War Memorial by heads of state and other official visitors

AWM250 AIF (Australian Imperial Force) Kit Store personal effects index Cards

AWM253 Department of Defence correspondence Files, multiple number series with AIF prefix

AWM255 Written records, 1914-18 War, Second series

AWM256 AIF Administrative Headquarters registry, Deputy Adjutant-General’s Branch files

AWM365 Map Collection of Major General George Vasey CB CBE DSO

3) Biographical Records

AWM7 Troopship records, 1914-18 War

AWM8 Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War

AWM9 Unit roll books, 1914-18 War

AWM19 Australian Imperial Force Depots in the United Kingdom, Assistant Director of Education files, 1914-18 War

AWM21 Records of the Assistant Provost Marshal, 1914-18 War

AWM28 Recommendation files for honours and awards, AIF, 1914-18 War

AWM29 Casualty lists, chronological series

AWM30 Prisoner of war statements, 1914-18 War [related control series: AWM139]

AWM31 Troopship passenger lists

AWM37 Records of 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train and HMNZT Willochra

AWM43 Official History, 1914-18 War, biographical and other research files [related control series: AWM140]

AWM131 Roll of Honour circulars, 1914-18 War

  • Series available in microform

AWM133 Nominal roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad

AWM136 Nominal roll of deceased members of the Australian Imperial Force and the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

  • Series available in microform

AWM140 Official History, 1914-18 War, biographical cards

  • Series available in microform

AWM144 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-18 War, Royal Australian Navy

  • Series available in microform

AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-18 War, Army

  • Series available in microform

AWM163 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-18 War, ineligible repatriation beneficiaries

AWM164 Roll of Honour circulars, 1914-18 War, supplementary series

  • Series available in microform

AWM169 War graves registration cards, 1914-18 War

AWM182 Office of the Military Secretary, Officer's Record of Service ledgers

AWM183 Australian War Records Section biographical forms

AWM190 Nominal roll of Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

AWM221 Records of No 1 Command Depot relating to District Courts Martial

AWM222 Records of No 1 Command Depot (later AIF Depot, Sutton Veny) relating to District Courts Martial, D series

AWM223 Miscellaneous records of No 1 Command Depot, (AIF Depot, Sutton Veny) relating to District Courts Martial

AWM236 Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Register: Soldiers from Australia

AWM237 Roll of Honour cards, supplementary sources

AWM249 Wesley College, Melbourne, Biographical cards

AWM261 Supplementary Roll of Honour cards

AWM332 Unit embarkation rolls, 1914-18 War, transferred by Central Army Records Office (CARO)

4) Naval Records

AWM35 HMA Ships logs

AWM36 Navy records used by A Jose (includes United Kingdom records)

AWM37 Records of 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train and HMNZT Willochra

AWM39 Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of Arthur W Jose

AWM50 Records of HMA Naval Establishments, Sydney

AWM124 Naval historical collection

  • Series of original records and other material acquired by the Navy Historical Records Section and its successors. Covers a broad range of subjects

AWM180 Naval investigations and enquiries

AWM239 RAN Medical Officers' journals

AWM369 Royal Australian Navy – Court-Martial records

5) Official Historian's Records

AWM38 Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of C E W Bean, Official Historian

  • Published guide available: Piggott, Michael. A guide to the personal, family and official papers of C.E.W. Bean (Canberra, Australian War Memorial, 1983)

AWM39 Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of Arthur W Jose

AWM40 Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of H S Gullett

AWM41 Official History, 1914-18 War: Records of A G Butler, Historian of Australian Army Medical Services

AWM43 Official History, 1914-18 War, biographical and other research files

AWM44 Official History, 1914-18 War, manuscripts

AWM140 Official History, 1914-18 War, biographical cards

  • Series available in microform

6) Copied or Captured Records

AWM45 Copies of British war diaries and other records, 1914-18 War ("Heyes papers")

AWM46 Captured German documents, 1914-18 War

  • Series available in microform. AWM 47 German records collected by Captain J J W Herbertson.

7) Private Records

2DRL/0701 Lieutenant Colonel J W Springthorpe, reports and correspondence on AAMC in Egypt and England. 1914-1922

3DRL/0250 Sir J Barratt, AAMC records, Egypt. 1914-1922

3DRL/0251 Major General R H Fetherston, reports and administrative papers concerned with his duties as DGMS. 1914-1919

3DRL/2222 G F Pearce, Department of Defence papers covering a wide range of military subjects. 1914-1918

  • Collection available in microform

3DRL/2316 General J Monash, operations orders and reports from Gallipoli and France. 1915-1919

3DRL/2379 Brigadier General H A Goddard, 9th Infantry Brigade operations papers France. 1915-1919

3DRL/2574 R M Ferguson (later Lord Novar), correspondence as Governor General with the King and General Birdwood. 1914-1920

3DRL/2600 General J J T Hobbs, operations papers for Gallipoli and France, letters to G F Pearce. 1914-1919

3DRL/2803 Major General W Holmes, papers related to command in German New Guinea. 1914-1917

3DRL/3376 Field Marshal Lord Birdwood, papers relating to ANZAC operations.

3DRL/1400 Major General C B B White, reports and notes, Gallipoli and France. 1915-1930

PR89/034 Lieutenant Colonel F W G Annand, papers related to 2nd Pioneer Battalion and HMAT Norman. 1914-1931

PR89/149 Brigadier General R E Williams, report as Commandant of 3rd Military District. 1917

3DRL/1473 Major General J Gellibrand, operations, reports and administrative papers France. 1890-1944 [see also 3DRL/6288 3DRL/3250, 3DRL/6405, 3DRL/6541, 3DRL/7446 and PR83/193]

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