Image: Nurses of the 2/5th AGH on parade in Palestine, awaiting inspection by their matron.
Most First World War AIF records are available online to view and download for free at the National Archives of Australia website (www.naa.gov.au). These records are held in the B2455 series. Records can be searched by name (which can be a tedious process if the name is a common one), and NAA offers a ‘Name Search’ tool which can cut down the number of hits and make a search quicker and easier.
All Royal Australian Navy Service Record cards from 1911 to 1970 (when the RAN moved to electronic data keeping) have been digitized and are also available to view and download for free from the NAA. First World War related records are in the A6769 (officers) and A6770 (ratings) series. Again, the ‘Name Search’ tool can make a search quicker and easier.
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Graham Wilson,
About Graham :
Graham served 26 years in the Australian Regular Army, retiring in 1996 as a Warrant Officer Intelligence Analyst. Following five years as a civilian intelligence officer in the Department of Defence, he transferred to the Defence Department’s Directorate of Honours and Awards where he worked for 10 years in the support and policy areas; the latter as Staff Officer Historical Research. Graham retired from the Public Service in February 2011 and now works as a historian. Graham is active in a number of historical and militaria societies and is a prolific author of historical articles; he has been published in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA and has received a number of awards for military history writing. He has published two books, 'Bully Beef and Balderdash' and 'Dust Donkeys and Delusions'. His latest book due for release shortly.