Australian War Memorial

Australian War Memorial Shrine, Museum, Archive

This page contains names & images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
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The Memorial encourages respectful & appropriate discussions. We have a zero-tolerance policy on soliciting, discrimination or bullying. This website contains names, images and voice of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This website contains war-related material, including images which some people may find confronting and disturbing.

🪶 Here's 5 things you might not know about C.J. Dennis, one of Australia’s most beloved poets and storytellers:1️⃣ Today...
07/09/2026

🪶 Here's 5 things you might not know about C.J. Dennis, one of Australia’s most beloved poets and storytellers:

1️⃣ Today, 7 September 2026, marks his 150th birthday.

2️⃣ He was known as the "laureate of the larrikin", capturing the humour, slang, and resilience of soldiers and everyday Australians during the First World War.

3️⃣ One of his works The Songs of a Sentimental Bloke was a staple in the trenches, providing a connection to home and an escape from the hardships of war.

4️⃣ Dennis’s characters became synonymous with the war and the values of the Anzacs. His character “Ginger Mick” is even cast in bronze in the Memorial’s First World War galleries.

5️⃣ Selections of Dennis’s works are available on the AWM’s Transcribe website: https://brnw.ch/21x5uko.

🔗 Explore his literary legacy and discover how his memorable characters continue to resonate more than a century later: https://brnw.ch/21x5ukn

On Saturday, 21 veterans and their families reunited at the Australian War Memorial, all connected by service in Bushmas...
07/09/2026

On Saturday, 21 veterans and their families reunited at the Australian War Memorial, all connected by service in Bushmasters. For some, it was the first time they had seen each other in 14 years.

It was a privilege to host the group as they visited ‘Debbie’, the Bushmaster that struck an improvised explosive device while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2012.

For Mathew Bell and Mathew Clarke, pictured together in the second image, the last time they had seen each other was after the incident, when Bell carried Clarke on a stretcher.

‘Debbie’ is now on permanent display at the Australian War Memorial, preserved in the condition in which it returned from Afghanistan, helping to share their story with future generations.

The Battle of Milne Bay was a turning point in the Pacific war.Fought from 25 August to 7 September 1942, the battle saw...
06/09/2026

The Battle of Milne Bay was a turning point in the Pacific war.

Fought from 25 August to 7 September 1942, the battle saw Australian forces repel a Japanese invasion force in some of the worst conditions they faced during the Second World War.

📍 Learn more in the new Battle of Milne Bay gallery in Anzac Hall, at the Australian War Memorial.

05/09/2026

In Afghanistan, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were a versatile asset that performed a variety of roles, from transporting personnel to carrying heavy equipment.

This Polaris 6x6 ATV, Army Registration Number ARN208109, was operated by the 2nd Commando Regiment in Afghanistan, where its final role was as a mortar transport.

The Australian War Memorial is seeking more information about ATVs used during the war, particularly this example now on display in our Anzac Hall galleries. If you operated, maintained or fitted out an ATV, we would love to hear from you.

💬 Send us a DM and we’ll connect you with our experts.

04/09/2026

From fragile film to a lasting digital record. 📽️

Frame by frame, Motion Picture Image Operator Anthony Shaw helps preserve films from the National Collection, ensuring the original footage remains accessible for future generations.

Filmed during the development of Anzac Hall and the Anzac Atrium, Anthony is digitising original 16-millimetre footage of HMAS Brisbane during her service.

Footage: HMAS Brisbane delivery Panama Canal, 1968. Film by RAN Public Relations. F10855.

"I just remember thinking to myself, I wish Dad was here."George Wheatley was just 11 years old when his father, Warrant...
04/09/2026

"I just remember thinking to myself, I wish Dad was here."

George Wheatley was just 11 years old when his father, Warrant Officer Kevin "Dasher" Wheatley VC, was killed in Vietnam on 13 November 1965. More than half a century later, he still remembers the moment his family's life changed forever.

George was playing in the backyard when he saw his mother return home with the Regimental Sergeant Major and a chaplain. He knew immediately that something was wrong. His father, known for his courage, loyalty and larger-than-life personality, would not be coming home.

Today, Kevin 'Dasher' Wheatley VC is remembered as one of Australia's most courageous soldiers. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross after refusing to leave a wounded mate behind during heavy fighting in Vietnam, sacrificing his own life in an attempt to save another.

But for George, the memories are not of medals or citations. They are of a father who played cricket in the backyard, taught him to polish army boots, cooked endless sausages when his mother was in hospital, and brought home a stray dog because he couldn't bear to see it harmed.

Those small family moments became precious after his father's death. When George was presented with his father's Victoria Cross by the Governor-General in 1967, he was told to stand tall and be proud. Yet amid the ceremony and honours, one thought stayed with him: "I wish Dad was here."

Help us to honour the families of those who serve as we create a new sculpture in the Memorial's gardens.

Donate: https://brnw.ch/21x5qQW
Recognising Families Sculpture

03/09/2026

Some served a country that did not treat them as equals. What inspired them, and those who followed, to answer the call?

Reg Saunders, Len Waters, John Burns and Aunty Lorraine Hatton OAM served across different generations, each with their own reasons for doing so.

One dreamed of flying. One found belonging in uniform. For others, returning home meant confronting a very different reality.

🎧 Discover their stories in Serving Country, the latest episode of Through Their Eyes. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

01/09/2026

Australian soldiers on Operation Kudu are making a valuable contribution to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Chaplain Kelly Horne highlights the importance of hope.

The exhibition, Operation Kudu: Supporting Ukraine, offers insight into Australia’s role in training Ukrainian forces and highlighting the human stories behind contemporary conflict.

Legacy Week was officially launched at the Australian War Memorial yesterday, with a commemorative ceremony recognising ...
01/09/2026

Legacy Week was officially launched at the Australian War Memorial yesterday, with a commemorative ceremony recognising Legacy's enduring support for the families of Australian veterans.

Legacy representatives from clubs across Canberra and southern New South Wales took part in the ceremony, joined by the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, who delivered an address.

For more than 100 years, Legacy has stood beside the partners and children of those who served. This week's appeal helps make sure that support continues.

Legacy Week runs until Saturday 5 September.

🔗 Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x5kKi

Today marks Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day, where we commemorate those who served in the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) ...
31/08/2026

Today marks Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day, where we commemorate those who served in the Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) and the Indonesian Confrontation (or Konfrontasi, 1962–1966).

We pay tribute to the 61 Australians who lost their lives in these conflicts, whose names are listed on the Roll of Honour.

In the Last Post Ceremony for today, we commemorate the life of Private Robert Charles Moncrieff, who was killed during the Indonesian Confrontation in 1966. Watch live at 4.30 pm AEST: https://brnw.ch/21x5jlI

Image: Phillip Oliver Hobson. A Daimler Ferret armoured car escorts unidentified soldiers from 'stand by' platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 2RAR. 1956, Malaya, HOB/56/0751/MC.

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