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Napier Waller, In the trenches (c. 1918, watercolour on paper, 24 x 36 cm). AWM ART94646

Artist in the Trenches

Napier Waller served with the artillery in the First World War.

By Ann Ashton

First World War 1914 - 1918
A VIEW OF THE RAILWAY STATION AT TEL ELEISA, SCENE OF SOME OF THE MOST INTENSIVE FIGHTING EXPERIENCED BY OUR FORCES AT PRESENT ENGAGED IN THE WESTERN DESERT. TEL EL EISA IS THE ARABIC FOR "HILL OF JESUS". (NEGATIVE BY HURLEY).

First Alamein: Ruin Ridge

Unexpected losses and operational failures on the final line of defence in Egypt 1942.

By Nicole Townsend

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Some of the first 22 WRANS on parade at HMAS Harman, August 1941.

The First WRANS

Women trained as wireless telegraphists to free men for war, leading to the WRANS formation.

By Jennifer Selby

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Thbeng Mean Chey, Cambodia. 1993-02-18. Lance Corporal (L Cpl) Dave Hurrey (left), and L Cpl Paul Astbury, Australian Signals Corps, United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)

Australians as peacekeepers

For more than 70 years Australia has been providing peacekeepers to the world and our region.

By David Horner

Peacekeeping 1947 - today
A man with a flamethrower on his back sets fire to the grass as smoke billows ahead.

Assault by Fire

Flame-throwers aroused terror and revulsion, but they came to be used by all sides in warfare.

By Shane Casey

First World War 1914 - 1918
An Australian officer and a group of the 1st Papuan Infantry Battalion

Skin in the Game

Australia’s long defence relationship with Papua New Guinea is based in shared history.

By Tristan Moss

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Sybil Craig, Weighing cordite, Commonwealth explosives factory, Maribyrnong, 1945

Sybil Craig: for the war effort

Sybil's artworks capture the vital role of war industry workers on the home front.

By Michael Grant

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Unopened bottle of Tooth's Draught Ale

The Beer They Never Shared

One of Australia’s oldest unopened bottles of beer has been donated to the National Collection.

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Soldiers of 8RAR en route to the task force base

A Nasho's Service

What seemed like destiny became an experience that has lasted a lifetime.

By Simon Kleinig

Vietnam War 1962 - 1975
Geoffrey Mainwaring, "Australian action at Buna", 1962, oil on canvas, 175 x 313 cm. AWM ART27547

The Japanese Experience

The Allied victory at Buna–Gona was harrowing for the Japanese soldiers

By Haruki Yoshida

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Sergeant Brian Walsh and 2nd Lieutenant Jim Fitzsimon, both of 7RAR, checking an American .30-06 calibre M1917 rifle and a 7.92-mm German Mauser Model 98

From the East and the West

Enemy weapons encountered by the Australian Army in South Vietnam.

By Garth O'Connell

Vietnam War 1962 - 1975