The National Archives holds records relating to every conflict Australia was involved in from 1899 to 1975.

Boer War: 1899 to 1902

Between 1899 and 1902 more than 10,000 Australian soldiers sailed for South Africa. They supported British troops in the war against two Boer states:

• the South African Republic (Republic of Transvaal)
• the Orange Free State

Colonial governments sent the first Australian contingents to the Boer War.

In 1902 the newly formed Commonwealth government sent an extra 8 battalions of the Australian Commonwealth Horse.

Records held by the National Archives of Australia and the Australian War Memorial document the recruiting, training and transport of these forces.

Records are in the form of:

• nominal rolls
• pay sheets
• reports
• thousands of policy and administrative files

In 1999 the National Archives published The Boer War: Australians and the War in South Africa, 1899–1902.

This 94-page guide describes both colonial and Commonwealth records on the Boer War held by us and the Australian War Memorial.

The guide is a valuable resource for researching this war.

For information about records of service for those who served in the Boer War, see Army – Boer War: 1899–1902.

First World War: 1914 to 1918

More than 330,000 Australians served overseas in the First World War (WW1). Of these:

• nearly 60,000 died
• 152,000 were wounded
• more than 4000 were taken prisoner, of whom 395 died in captivity

For information about records of service for these personnel see Army – First World War: 1914-1918.

We hold many administrative records of WW1, including:

• courts-martial files
• service records

Most operational records are held by the Australian War Memorial. This includes records of:

• troopships
• deployments
• battles
• records created by individual army units

We hold more than 300 series of records on non-operational aspects of the First World War. This includes how Australia supported the war effort and kept the country safe from invasion.

Other records

See also information about Wartime internment camps in Australia.

Second World War: 1939 to 1945

More than 993,000 Australians served in the armed forces during the Second World War (WW2). Of those in active service:

• 27,073 were killed in action, died from wounds, or died (or presumed died) while prisoners of war
• 23,477 were wounded
• 30,560 were taken prisoner of war, of whom 8,296 died in captivity

Service records

To find a service record for a World War II serviceperson, see Army – Second World War: 1939-1945.

Other records for the Second World War

The National Archives holds more than 1500 other series of records for WW2.

These records cover every aspect of the war, and include:

• evacuation plans
• defence production
• the Commonwealth War Book
• broadcasts and film censorship
• clothing and food rationing
• food production
• security investigation files
• air raid precautions
• the Australian Women’s Land Army records
• other civilian service records
• RAAF unit history sheets
• Navy signal packs
• strategic and operational planning documents on the war itself

You can find other records in RecordSearch. To search:

• use keywords or other searches
• specify the date ranges, for example '1942 to 1943'

The records highlighted below deal with several issues of domestic concern during the war. They represent only a small proportion of the series held.

Other records

See also information about records of wartime internment camps.

Korean War: 1950 to 1953

On 25 June 1950 the North Korean Army invaded South Korea.

Parts of the Australian Navy, Army and Air Force were still with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan. Australia quickly committed these forces to Korea and sent additional forces from Australia.

The war lasted until 1953. As a result there were:

• more than 1556 Australian casualties, including 340 fatalities
• 29 Australians taken prisoner of war

You can request access to service records for those who served in the Korean War using the Defence after WW2 inquiry form.

Records for the Commander-in-Chief of the British Commonwealth Forces in Korea are also relevant.

Our records include:

• Correspondence files – Engineer Regiment
• Correspondence files – Korean Operations
• Daily operation reports
• Maps of trafficability, construction materials and route studies
• British prisoner of war files

Malayan Emergency: 1948 to 1960

In June 1948 the British colonial government in Malaya declared a state of emergency to combat violence and unrest.

This was set against a background of political, racial and industrial conflict.

The Malayan Communist Party led an uprising. Over the next 12 years, British Commonwealth forces fought against them. This became known as the Malayan Emergency.

The state of emergency was not fully lifted until 1960, three years after the Federation of Malaya became independent.

Australia became involved in June 1950 by sending:

• six Lincoln bombers from No. 1 (Bomber) Squadron, RAAF
• a flight of Dakotas from No. 38 (Transport) Squadron, RAAF

The first Australian ground forces arrived in Malaya in 1955. The last left in 1963.

As well as air and infantry forces, Australia contributed:

• artillery and engineering support
• an airfield construction squadron
• signals personnel
• Royal Australian Navy ships

As a result of the war in Malaya:

• 51 Australian servicemen were killed
• 27 were wounded

You can request access to service records for those who served in the Malayan Emergency using the Defence after WWII inquiry form.

Other relevant records include:

• Roll of Honour cards, Malayan Emergency (held by the Australian War Memorial)
• Name index of Queensland army personnel, British Commonwealth Occupation Forces [Japan and possessions], Korea and Malayan Emergency
• Official history of Australia's involvement in South-East Asian conflicts 1948–75 (Australian War Memorial)

You can find other records in RecordSearch. Some suggested ways of searching are to:

• use the phrase ‘Malayan Emergency’ in keywords
• use ‘malay* emergency’
• use 'malay*' as a keyword with a date range of 1948 to 1960.

Indonesian Confrontation: 1962 to 1966

The Confrontation was a small, undeclared war fought from 1962 to 1966.

President Sukarno of Indonesia tried to destabilise and destroy the new Federation of Malaysia that emerged in 1963.

Sukarno argued that the Federation was a means of maintaining British colonial rule in South-East Asia. He believed Malaysia's independence was only a front.

In early 1963 military activity increased along the border with Borneo.

Small parties of armed Indonesians infiltrated Malaysian territory on propaganda and sabotage missions.

Armed incursions increased in strength. By 1964 the Indonesian army began cross-border raids. Later that year they attacked peninsula of Malaysia itself.

Australian forces were already based in Malaysia as part of the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve. These forces defended the peninsula from September to October 1964.

In 1965 Australian troops joined British and New Zealand forces in Borneo. Together they fought on both sides of the border.

Cross-border operations were very sensitive and were never officially admitted at the time.

In August 1966 the Indonesians and Malaysians signed a peace treaty in Bangkok. This marked the end of the confrontation.

In all, Australia contributed:

• 2 infantry battalions
• 2 squadrons of the Special Air Service
• several artillery batteries
• parties of the Royal Australian Engineers
• ships of the RAN
• 5 Squadron RAAF

As a result of the Confrontation:

• 23 Australians were killed
• 8 were wounded

You can request access to service records for those who served in the Indonesian Confrontation using the Defence after WW2 inquiry form.

Search for other records in RecordSearch using the keyword ‘confrontation’.

Vietnam War: 1962 to 1975

In August 1962, Australia's initial military commitment to South Vietnam was only a team of 30 military advisers (Australian Army Training Team Vietnam or AATTV).

However by the time the last Australian troops were withdrawn from Vietnam in December 1972, Australians had been fighting in Vietnam for more than 10 years.

By that time:

• more than 50,000 Australians had served in Vietnam
• 521 Australians were killed
• 2398 were wounded, of whom 43 per cent were national servicemen

We hold many records on Australia’s role in the Vietnam War.

The following collections show some of the material held.

Australian Army records on Vietnam

• Vietnam soldiers' personnel files
• Standard operating procedures (SOP) for various units in Vietnam
• Training pamphlets and manuals issued in Vietnam
• After action reports
• Records of units under the command of HQ Australian Army Vietnam (Saigon) (held by the Australian War Memorial)
• Aerial photos of South Vietnam
• Aerial photos of Phuoc Tuy province and Vung Tau area, South Vietnam
• Files relating to medical matters during the Vietnam conflict
• Headquarters 1st Australian Task Force (Nui Dat) records (held by the Australian War Memorial)
• Army Office operations branch files on Vietnam operations (held by the Australian War Memorial)
• Records of the 13th National Service Training Battalion (held by the Australian War Memorial)

See also herbicide records for the Vietnam War for information on chemical agents.

Check PhotoSearch for photographs of:

• the Army’s activities in Vietnam
• anti-war demonstrations in Australia

Search for photographs on the Vietnam conflict in the Australian War Memorial's collection databases.

Royal Australian Navy records on Vietnam

During the the war, the Royal Australian Navy supported the Allied Forces with destroyers and transports.

Search for records in RecordSearch using the keywords ‘navy' and 'Vietnam'.

Records of the 723 Helicopter Squadron of the Royal Australian Navy are also relevant.

Royal Australian Air Force records on Vietnam

The HQ RAAF Contingent at Vung Tau and the RAAF Element in Saigon have relevant records. These include:

• Nominal rolls, briefings, details of operations and activity reports
• Summaries of operational (flying) activities in Vietnam
• Correspondence files

Records of No. 2 Bomber Squadron are also relevant.

Look for photographs in PhotoSearch or check:

• the RAAF’s activities in Vietnam
• anti-war demonstrations in Australia