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General Douglas Haig

Intelligence on the Somme

British intelligence systems played an influential role in the conduct of the fighting in 1916.

By Jim Beach

First World War 1914 - 1918
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
Survivors of the 1st Light Horse regiment’s attack at Pope’s Hill assemble after the battle. There were fewer than 50

A chain of disasters

The battle at Lone Pine was only part of a series of attacks in August 1915

By Peter Burness

First World War 1914 - 1918
Australian soldier crouches on the ground with a Bren light machine gun

Down the Buin Road

Sweat, mud, fatigue, stress, fear and constant patrolling in Bougainville, 1945.

By Dr Karl James

Second World War 1939 - 1945
Bayonet training

The spirit of the bayonet

An outdated weapon still played an important psychological role.

By Dr Aaron Pegram

First World War 1914 - 1918
Second Lieutenant Nakanishi formerly Commandant of the Notogawa prisoner of war (POW) camp surrenders his sword (and command) to Lt Goddard who was captured at Singapore on 15 February 1942

The Spirit of the Samurai

At surrender ceremonies in 1945, Japanese leaders were made to do the unthinkable.

By Haruki Yoshida

Second World War 1939 - 1945
The Lone Pine diorama at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.

Courage at Lone Pine

The Lone Pine diorama depicts the attack on 6 August 1915.

First World War 1914 - 1918
The cemetery near Hell Spit on the southern horn of ANZAC Cove. The grave on the left is that of Captain Bage.

A quiet hero

Already a hero of the Antarctic, a gifted man’s life was wasted at Gallipoli

By Peter Burness

First World War 1914 - 1918