The Perth Office of the National Archives holds a collection of pay and allotment history records for Western Australian enlistees to the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). These records can be valuable sources of information for family and military history researchers.
The records relate to service in World War I (Army), World War II (Army and Air Force) and the period since World War II (Army and Air Force).
Army service
World War I
Pay cards for World War I service contain the following information: name, regimental number, date of enlistment, rank, unit, and the ship on which the member departed and returned to Australia. The name of an allottee (ie a person to whom a regular payment was made from the member’s earnings) and relationship to the member may also be shown. The records, arranged alphabetically, are held in two series: those who returned and those killed on active service.
World War II
Index cards and pay cards are held for World War II enlistees. The index cards are arranged alphabetically by surname and include name, regimental number, date of enlistment and discharge and unit. As the index extends to 1963, it can also be used to access pay cards for enlistees since World War II.
Pay cards for World War II service are arranged by regimental number (this can be located from the index cards) and show name, date of enlistment, regimental number, rank, and sometimes the name and address of an allottee. The cards are arranged into two categories: members of the 2nd AIF (WX prefix), and non-AIF personnel, including CMF and conscripts (W prefix). Pay cards for prisoners of war are included.
Service since World War II
Pay cards for Western Australian enlistees since World War II are held for the period 1947–63.
Royal Australian Air Force service
World War II service
Index cards and pay cards are held for RAAF personnel. The index cards are arranged alphabetically by surname and provide only the service number.
Pay cards are arranged by service number (obtained from the index card) and show name, date of enlistment and discharge, service number, rank, signature, and sometimes name and address of the allottee.
Service since World War II
Pay cards for Western Australian enlistees since World War II are held for the period 1948–61. As there is no index to these records they are difficult to access unless the member's service number is known.
Army and RAAF pay records held in Perth
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Pay ledger cards of ex-servicemen (returned to Australia) | 1914–20 | K1143 |
| Pay ledger cards of ex-servicemen (killed/missing in action) | 1914–20 | K1144 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Pay history and allotment ledger cards of ex-servicemen who enlisted for active service overseas (WX numbers) [includes prisoners of war] | 1939–58 | K1152 |
| Name index cards to service documents | 1939–48 | PP2/7 |
| Pay history and allotment ledger cards of Home Defence personnel (W numbers) | 1939–47 | PP113/1 |
| Alphabetical register of enlistments for World War II & post-World War II | 1946–65 | PT302/39 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Pay history and allotment ledger cards for male personnel who re-enlisted or continued service after World War II | 1947–63 | K1374 |
| Pay history and allotment ledger cards for male personnel who re-enlisted or continued service after World War II | 1947–63 | K1375 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Alphabetical index to pay history and allotment ledger cards | 1939–48 | PP31/2 |
| Pay history and allotment ledger cards of servicemen who enlisted for World War II | 1939–48 | PP31/1 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Pay history and allotment ledger cards of servicemen who enlisted post-World War II | 1948–61 | PP143/1 |