World War 1

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On 15 August 1914, the Federal Government called for volunteers from all over Australia to join the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) that could be sent anywhere in the world for the duration of hostilities and four months thereafter. The official enlistment age was 21 years or 18 years with the consent of a parent.

The volunteers were organised into Battalions, Light Horse Regiments and Field Artillery Units. Other supporting services followed and these included Railway Operating Units, Machine Gun Companies and Tunnelling Companies, amongst others. These groups were named and organised in many different ways over the 4 years of the war and it is not unusual to see the records of a soldier mention a battalion, a brigade and a division, and sometimes multiples of each. A summary of the organisation of the AIF can be found on Order of Battle.

Nurses were also encouraged to volunteer with the Australian Army Nursing Service AIF. They worked in Australian and Allied hospitals, clearing stations, hospital ships and rehabilitation hospitals. These nurses were required to be between 25 and 40 years of age, unmarried, educated, and have completed 3 years nursing training.

Each battalion, regiment or unit started its own service numbers from 1 and continued as recruits were enlisted. This means that more than one Australian soldier could have the same service number. Officers did not have service numbers and soldiers commissioned up from the ranks had their numbers abolished. Nurses also did not have service numbers.

After the war, the troops began returning to Australia and the last transport ship left England on 13th April 1920. The AIF was disbanded on 1st April 1921.

The personal documents of anyone serving with an AIF Battalion, Regiment, Company or Unit are indexed on this page. Group photos and documents that pertain to an entire Battalion, Regiment, Company or Unit will be indexed under the Group Photos and Documents tab on this page.


Return to the Australian Imperial Force page.


BAKER, Douglas George - 8441, W243577
BAKER, Norman William - WP677, 347
BAKER, William Leslie - 10857
BAMBROOK, Gordon Lindsay - 2765
BAMFORD, William Victor - 4447, W40176
BAMKIN, Charles George - 2306, W31771
BARBER, George Walter
BARNES, Charles Albert
BARRATT, Albert William - 6295
BARRETT, William - 1519
BARRINGTON, Arthur Victor Royal - 4727
BARRY, James Mackesy - 6482
BATES, Alfred Frank - 6718, W68893
BATES, Wilfred Froud - 51
BATEY, James Earl - 10383, W243327
BATTYE, Charles
BEARD, George Brainsford - 3406
BENNETT, Henry Gordon - N76069, NX70343
BESSELL-BROWNE, Alfred Joseph - W47915
BICKLE, Herbert Thomas - 5987, W69234
BINGHAM, Austin Henry - 5339
BLAKE, Frederick Charles - 2384
BLAKEMORE, Leonard Mason - 407
BLANCHARD, William George - 855
BLYTHE, Albert Ogilvy - 2154
BLYTHE, Percy - 3457
BOTTLE, Ruth Gladys Isabella
BOUN, Joseph Clement - 38
BOWER, Robert - 2106
BOWRA, Herbert Joyce - W22, WX33950
BOX, Alfred Rodway - 279, 13681
BOYD, William Leighton - 7028, W67116
BRADLEY, John Bernard - 3372
BRADSHAW, Francis George - 3980, 6727
BRADSHAW, George Arthur - 515
BRAY, Ernest Gilbert - 3990, W46123
BRAY, Robert Ford - 1107
BREMNER, Alfred Blake - 1116
BRIDGES, Albert Joseph - 25388
BRIGHT, Arthur William - 348, 676
BRITT, William - 270
BRODIE, George Becker - 6481
BROWN, Bruce Harold - 3167, 56770
BROWN, Frederick William - 5676
BROWN, Harcourt Earl Douglas - 3044
BROWN, Harold Clare - 3091,W15944
BROWN, Herbert Oscar - 6482
BROWN, John Anderson - 11, W6194
BRYCE, Gilbert Arthur - 4071
BUCHANAN, Robert Charles - 3354
BUCKLEY, Harold - 3085
BULL, William Stanley - 4020
BURLEY, Frank Armstrong - 774
BURLEY, Robert Allan - 230
BURNHAM, Harry - 7912, 31681
MASON, Percival Aloysius
BYRNE, Jack Alan - 2575