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]
- Digitised Australian Army war diaries - First World War
- Limited access only to original diaries.
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
- Digitised First World War Embarkation Roll
- Searchable First World War Embarkation Roll
- Series available in microform
AWM9 Unit roll books, 1914-18 War
AWM133 Nominal roll of Australian Imperial Force who left Australia for service abroad
- Digitised First World War Nominal Roll
- Searchable First World War Nominal Roll
- Series available in microform
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
- Digitised First World War Embarkation Roll
- Searchable First World War Embarkation Roll
- Series available in microform
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
- Digitised Recommendation files for honours and awards, AIF, 1914-18 War
- Search Honours and Awards (Recommendations)
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
- Digitised First World War Nominal Roll
- Searchable First World War Nominal Roll
- Series available in microform
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]