The colour patch of
3rd Army Brigade Australian Field Artillery 1918-1919.
Our image library of colour patches, badges, emblems, flags will return when time and funding allows AAHU to restore them.
Army Research Grants Scheme
GRANTS
The Australian Army History Unit has a Research Grants Scheme.
Please visit the link below for further information.
CONFERENCE PAPERS ONLINE
The Boer War: Army, Nation and Empire
contains all the papers presented at the Chief of Army's history conference in 1999.
The entire series of papers from the CA's history conferences that are out of print are now available online. Visit:
Conference papers
PRIMARY MATERIALS
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| Allied troops surrender to Japanese forces in Singapore 1942 |
AAHU's online database of the extensive primary materials it holds is expanding. Recent additions to this collection include the:
- Report on the Directorate of POWs and Internees 1939-1951;
- 'Jess Report' on the activities of the AMF 1929-1939; and
- an extensive collection of Australian Intelligence Corps historical documents.
FROMELLES PROJECT
Project Overview
The Joint Australian and United Kingdom project to recover and re-inter 250 Australian and British First World War soldiers from Pheasant Wood in Fromelles, France has been completed.
The Australian Fromelles Project Group was established by Army in late 2008 to manage all Australian aspects of the project in conjunction with thier counterparts in the British Ministry of Defence and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Group successfully established contacts with over 2,000 relatives and descendants of soldiers killed at Fromelles where no record of their recovery exists. Following the successful identification of 96 Australian soldiers and the opening and dedication of the new Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, the Group was disbanded in August 2010.
The Australian aspects of this Joint project are now managed through the Unrecovered War Casualties - Army cell. Work to identify the remaining 154 unnamed soldiers of Pheasant Wood will continue as Army strives to establish contact with more relatives and descendants in the hope that their involvement will lead to further identifications.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2014.
For further information and the latest news please visit the Fromelles project website below
www.defence.gov.au/fromelles
FAQs
Am I entitled to a free copy of an Army Campaign Series book?
The answer to this and other frequently asked questions can be found at: FAQs
THE BATTLE OF FROMELLES
By Roger Lee
(2010)
Australian Army Campaign Series
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| Fromelles Campaign Series Cover |
The Battle of Fromelles - until recently largely forgotten in the accounts of Australia's experiences in World War One - remains the single bloodiest day in terms of numbers of soldiers killed, wounded or missing, in Australia's military history. The battle now is also one of the most controversial military episodes in Australian history. Unsurprisingly, Australians in the Twenty-First Century find the loss of over 1,700 soldiers killed in one 24 hour period confronting. Inevitably, some have reacted by seeking to find individuals to blame or accusing authorities of a ‘cover up'. The commanders during the battle, especially the senior British commanders, are always a tempting target. Long dead and unable to defend themselves and clearly from a different age in which attitudes and social values are removed from our own, they are an easy target, especially to modern day critics who have never served in the military, let alone been in command of troops under enemy fire. The battle for Fromelles was undoubtedly a tragedy – in the midst of a war which produced many such tragedies. Should anyone be blamed? Does finger pointing from the safety of 95 years distance add much to our understanding of the battle, the Western Front or the war itself? This book attempts to look at the battle, free from emotion, and place the course of events and the unfurling of the tragedy into its tactical, operational and strategic setting.
The Battle of Fromelles is the latest addition to the Australian Army Campaign Series. Find out more about the series at: Australian Army Campaign Series
AAHU Christmas Message
The Australian Army History Unit would like to wish it's friends and supporters a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year. It's been a productive and chaotic year! Once again we held a successful History Conference in September and have seen our publishing program go from strength to strength.
With a full compliment of staff, 2012 is shaping up to be another big year as we push on towards the centenary of the The Great War. Keep your eyes on this site in the first half of the year as we launch a revamped website alongside the Army's new website. During the later half of 2012, we also have plans to release some exciting new source material on our primary materials page.
Once again, thank you for your support in 2011 and have a safe, enjoyable holiday.
Yours
Roger Lee
Head of Army History Unit
Latest News, Items or Events
The Military Museum of Tasmania has new book available covering the history of Angelsea Barracks. Please use the form below to order your copy.
History of Angelsea Barracks Order Form 
All completed forms should be emailed back to the address on the form if being collected from the Australian Army Museum Tasmania on the 2 DEC 2011.
A cheque should only be forwarded (with the form) if postage is required. In this case mail to,
Australian Army Museum Tasmania
Anglesea Barracks
Davey Street
HOBART 7000
For further information please visit their website here: www.militarymuseumtasmania.org.au
AAHU has uploaded the following document of interest; Montevideo Maru Roll 1945 Initial Translation.
This Roll has been placed here as a memorial to the Australians lost when the Japanese freighter Montevideo Maru was torpedoed off Luzon by USS Sturgeon on 1 Jul 1942.
We have recently added new books to the Campaign Series
Please visit and browse the growing collection.
Primary materials
pages are taking shape and we are adding more materials online every month.
The frequently asked questions
are being continually updated, please visit them and if there is a question you feel should be there let us know.
Newsletter - Despatches
Here is our latest museum newsletter. (PDF)
We will be placing out most recent newsletter here and archiving older newsletters on a new page which you will be able to access through the menu on the left hand side of this page
Information regarding the Artillery Museum
Please find attached some important information covering the background of the Artillery Museum, the future of the collection and establishment of a new museum;
North Fort History and Recent Museum Movements About AAHU
Protecting Army heritage. Promoting Army history.
The Australian Army History Unit's mission: to serve the Australian Army by assisting it to meet its goals by promoting the study and understanding of Army's history and traditions within Army and also by utilising Army's rich heritage to foster continued good standing with the community.
Books
AAHU helps publish authoritative studies into aspects of the Australian Army's history and its contribution to Australia's development. Along with numerous biographies, there are books on many issues.
Browse the AAHU booklistConference papers
Many of the papers delivered at the Chief of Army's history conferences since 1994 are available online. Topics include the Boer, Korean and Vietnam Wars, land/air operations, amphibious operations in the south-west Pacific and strategic planning in peace and war.
Read past history conference papers onlineContacts
Need to know who's who and how to reach them at AAHU?
Find titles and contact details here.
FAQs
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive at AAHU. They may be all you need to steer you on your way with your research.
Answers to FAQsFamily history
If you're researching the history of your relative's time in the Australian Army, look through this page of useful information and pointers from AAHU historians.
Guidance on researching your family member's service historyArmy History Research Grants Scheme
Letters have been sent to all Grants applicants advising them of the outcome of their application. Please visit the Grants page to see the list of successful recipients and projects for 2011/12. [then include link] The Australian Army History unit thanks applicants for their interest in the Grants Scheme. The 2012/13 Grants Scheme will open in January 2012, with applications closing on Friday 24 February 2012. Information on the grants scheme and past recipients
History & battles
Start your research into Australian Army history with this overview of Australia's military history and the various battles the Army has been involved in in its over 100 year history.
Read about Army history and battlesPrimary materials
AAHU holds a wide range of official and unofficial documents, both published and unpublished, that are progressively being made available online.
Research primary materials onlinePrizes
The annual C.E.W. Bean Prize for Military History is awarded to the best honours or postgraduate thesis submitted in any Australian university focusing on the Australian Army's experience of war.
Information on prize applications and recipients