Service records

The National Archives holds records about service in the Australian defence forces from Federation in 1901. Find out how to access the records we hold relating to service with the:

Australian Army (Army)

• Boer War
• World War I
• Service between the world wars
• World War II
• Service after World War II

Royal Australian Navy (RAN)

• Service up to 1970
• Service after 1970

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

• Service up to and including World War II
• Service after World War II

We also hold other records relating to wartime service, including:

• civilian service
• courts-martial files
• merchant navy
• munitions workers
• soldier settlement
• veterans’ case files
• war gratuities

Under the Archives Act, you have a right of access to Commonwealth government records that are in the open access period.

For wider research, you may also want to consult the Archives records about defence administration and policy or unit, operational and administrative records held by the Australian War Memorial.

See also the list of abbreviations used in some service records. View documents from service records from the Boer War, World War I and World War II.