How to research Australian and New Zealand Soldiers from the First World War
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An earlier article has covered the potential sources available to those who are researching Canadian soldiers who served in the Great War. This brief article covers the sources available to research soldiers from Australia and New Zealand.
Australian Service records
Comprehensive service records for Australian soldiers can be found in the National Archives of Australia. Online, it is possible to view service records for the 1st Australian Imperial Force ('AIF'), and also rejected applications to serve in the AIF. Service records can often run to 50 or more pages.
To access the National Archives of Australia website click here: National Archives of Australia
The Australian War Memorial
The AWM also has a range of records which can assist when researching a person, unit or event. Click here to access the site: Australian War Memorial.
The AWM also has records for Red Cross Inquiry reports on wounded and missing soldiers click here to see a summary of what is held: Australian Red Cross records held at the Australian War Memorial (this has useful links at the bottom of the page to other sub-sets of records)
Australian Unit War Diaries
These can be accessed at the AWM here: Australian Imperial Force Unit War Diaries
Other
The UNSW Canberra website Australians at War contains a database on the First AIF and the Great War. Click here to access this: Australians at War
New Zealand Service records
Archives New Zealand has a number of NZEF First World War records that can be accessed via a search engine, Archway. It can be quite complex to access these records but research guides are available. Click here to access this: New Zealand Archives
NZ Unit War Diaries
The process of digitising all Unit War Diaries is ongoing.
Other
The Auckland Museum online cenotaph contains copies of the Memorial Rolls plus links to other useful research sites, including First World War pension rolls. Click here to access this Auckland Museum online cenotaph