The Army pay files held by the National Archives in Adelaide can be a valuable source of information for a range of researchers, including family and military historians. These records, originally created for pay accounting purposes, contain personal details about individual soldiers, officers, nurses and some war correspondents and representatives of organisations like the YMCA, Red Cross and Salvation Army.
Range of records held
Pay records held in Adelaide relate to personnel from 1939 onwards who enlisted in South Australia or were transferred to this state during World War II.
Contents of pay files
Army pay files typically detail the following information:
- member's full name,
- service number, rank, battalion,
- date and place of enlistment and date of discharge.
They usually also include age, date of birth, address, next of kin, name of allottee, religion, and the names, ages and addresses of the member’s immediate family (including siblings). Sometimes previous occupations, physical descriptions, notes about vaccinations, and extra information about families is recorded.
Wills, marriage certificate extracts, children’s birth certificate extracts, personal letters and even death certificates have also been discovered in pay files.
Pay books
Pay books are often contained within pay files. These books were usually carried by the soldiers in their battle dress breast pocket. They note personal details, rate of pay and promotions, and the place in which the soldier was paid each fortnight – effectively plotting soldiers’ movements in the Army. In rare cases, the pay books give a more personal insight with mementos like photographs, handwritten notes of friends’ home addresses and prayer cards tucked within the covers.
Accessing pay records
To locate pay files for a particular person you will need to know full name, service number, unit, and some idea of dates of service. Pay files from the series listed below may be viewed in the Adelaide reading room. Copies of the records are available for purchase.
World War II Army pay files held in Adelaide
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers who enlisted, SX or SXF (for female) prefix | 1939–45 | D1358 |
| SA permanent forces enlisted before World War II, SP prefix | 1939–44 | D4403 |
| Red Shield organisation member (one file only), M prefix | 1939–44 | D4417 |
| Representatives of YMCA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Department of Commerce & Agriculture, war correspondents and civilians working for British Commonwealth Occupational Forces (BCOF) press and printing unit, B prefix | 1939–44 | D4419 |
| Miscellaneous Command (one box only), B prefix | 1939–44 | D4416 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Army pay files of CMF Adelaide enlistments, S prefix | 1939–52 | D1357 |
Further information about service personnel records
World War I Army pay files
Army pay files for those South Australians who served with the First AIF (World War I) are held in Canberra.
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Army pay files, alphabetical series | 1914–23 | D2994 |
Inquiries about these files, including the purchase of photocopies, should be directed to our Reference Service. Ask us a question
Defence service records for World War I and World War II
The National Archives holds the service records of Australians who served in World War I and World War II in the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).
Copies of Army and RAAF service records may be purchased. Copies of Navy service cards are provided free of charge. Contact our Reference Service (details above), or order and pay online through NameSearch.