Victorian Genealogy
Finding People and Places in Victoria, Australia.
See Honours and Awards.
See War Cemeteries under Cemetery and Crematoria Records.
See Monuments and War Memorials.
Local rolls of honour may be found in newspapers during the war and in the years after the war. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA - ROLL OF HONOUR
There is a Roll of Honour on the Australian War Memorial website that details members of the Australian armed forces who died while on active service.
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=Roll%20of%20Honour
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA - COMMEMORATIVE ROLL
There is also a Commemorative Roll on the Australian War Memorial website that details Australians who were not members of the Australian armed forces who died during or as a result of wars in which Australians served. It includes those Australians who died while members of Allied Forces, the Merchant Navy, philanthropic organisations attached to the forces or as war correspondents or photographers.
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=Commemorative%20Roll
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALASIAN IMPERIAL EXPEDITIONARY FORCES ROLL OF HONOUR 1914-1919
These are transcribed records.
FAMILYSEARCH - GEELONG HONOUR ROLL 1914-1919
Includes details of those who served, as well as those who died in World War I. Original records housed at the Geelong Historical Records Centre.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/553050?availability=Family%20History%20Library
VICTORIA POLICE MUSEUM - HONOUR ROLL OF VICTORIAN POLICE MEMBERS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR 1
https://www.policemuseum.vic.gov.au/anzac-commemorations
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES ROLL OF HONOUR
Sydney, Bank of NSW, 1921.
http://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb/digitised-biographies
FINDMYPAST - BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES ROLL OF HONOUR
The Bank of New South Wales produced a presentation bound book to celebrate the lives of the 793 men, 42% of the bank’s staff of 1800, who enlisted in the armed forces of Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain. These men came from the bank’s head office in Sydney and their branch offices in every Australian state, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji as well as the London office. This is searchable and may be browsed.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/bank-of-new-south-wales-roll-of-honour
PHYLLIS WILSON - NURSES WHO DIED DURING OR AS A RESULT OF WAR SERVICE SINCE THE BOER WAR
http://www.members.optushome.com.au/lenorefrost/nurses.html
If military service personnel have been taken prisoner it should be stated in their military service record. For enemy military service personnel taken prisoner and held in Australia see Internees and Prisoner of War Records.
AUSTRALIAN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR MEMORIAL, BALLARAT
This website has a database of all Australian prisoners of war.
http://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/
The appointment, promotion and transfer of officers in the Victorian Colonial Armed Forces may be found in Victoria Government Gazettes. See Government Gazettes.
The appointment, promotion and transfer of officers in the Australian Armed Forces may be found in Australian Government Gazettes. See Government Gazettes.
BRITISH MILTARY FORCES 1788-1870
Victoria was defended using British military forces until 1870.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - VICTORIAN COLONIAL ARMED FORCES 1854-1901
The colony of Victoria had an army and a navy as well as volunteer and militia forces. Most of the records have been digitized.
FRIENDS OF CERBERUS - INFORMATION ON THE VICTORIAN NAVY
This includes certificates of service for the Permanent Victorian Navy Force 1884-1905 sourced from the National Archives of Australia (B5537, Volume 1).
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - ARMY RECORDS 1901-1973
Some records have been digitized. The Army included the Australian Flying Corps from 1912 to 1921; the Royal Australian Air Force was formed in 1921.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - NAVY RECORDS 1903-1911
Australian Naval Forces service records from 1901 to 1913 are held by the Australian War Memorial. The Australian Naval Force Engagement and Service Records database contains the details of Australian sailors before the formation of the Royal Australian Navy.
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=Australian%20Naval%20Force
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - NAVY RECORDS 1911-1976
Some have been digitized.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - AIR FORCE RECORDS 1921-1948
Some have been digitized. The predecessor of the Royal Australian Air Force was the Australian Flying Corps 1912-1921 and this was part of the Australian Army.
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE PERSONNEL FILES, 1921-1948 (A9300, A9301)
These records were provided by the National Archives of Australia. Each airman or airwoman has multiple pages of information relating to their service, and files may include casualty files, accident reports, and unit records.The files may be browsed and are searchable.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/61989/
Victorians may also have served as members of Allied Forces.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - PRE FIRST WORLD WAR CONFLICTS NOMINAL ROLLS
Soldiers who served in the Boer War may be searched in Pre First World War Conflicts Nominal Rolls.
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIA, BOER WAR CONTINGENTS 1899-1902
This is the official records of the Australian Military Contingents to the War in South Africa.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/australia-boer-war-contingents
FINDMYPAST - ANGLO-BOER WAR RECORDS 1899-1902
This database of more than 470 sources may reveal the unit your ancestor served with and any medals, honors, or awards they won. The register also contains a completely revised casualty list of 59,000 casualty records.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/anglo-boer-war-records-1899-1902
Military-Genealogy.com, comp. Boer War Casualties 1899-1902. The Naval and Military Press Ltd. www.military-genealogy.com. This is a database of soldiers who either died or were wounded during the Boer War.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=1912
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - BOER WAR ATTESTATION PAPERS 1901-1902
Attestation papers for soldiers who served the Commonwealth of Australia in the Boer War have been digitized.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - FUNERAL BENEFITS
Funeral benefit files for soldiers who served in the Boer War have been indexed into RecordSearch and some have been digitized.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - PRE FIRST WORLD WAR CONFLICTS NOMINAL ROLLS
Soldiers who served in China may be searched in Pre First World War Conflicts Nominal Rolls.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - WORLD WAR 1 EMBARKATION ROLLS
This gives details of approximately 330,000 AIF personnel, recorded as they embarked from Australia for overseas service during the First World War.
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=First%20World%20War%20Embarkation%20Roll
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE EMBARKATION ROLL 1914-1918
These are transcribed records. They are searchable.
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - WORLD WAR 1 NOMINAL ROLLS
This gives details of approximately 324,000 AIF personnel and was recorded to assist with their repatriation to Australia from overseas service following the First World War.
https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=First%20World%20War%20Nominal%20Roll
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE NOMINAL ROLL 1914-1918
These are transcribed records. They are searchable.
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE, NOMINAL ROLL OF THE FIRST RAILWAY SECTION 1917-1920
This is an index of railway employees who formed the 1st Railway Section of the Australian Imperial Expeditionary Force during World War One. The original records are on microfilm at New South Wales State Records.
VICTORIA POLICE MUSEUM - VICTORIAN POLICE MEMBERS WHO SERVED IN WORLD WAR 1
https://www.policemuseum.vic.gov.au/anzac-commemorations
FINDMYPAST - EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAR SERVICE
This includes short biographies and photographs of most of the 752 people employed by the Education Department who served in World War 1. Also mentions people employed by the Education Department whose sons or brothers died on service as well as those who volunteered and were rejected (mostly on medical grounds).
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/education-department-war-service
FINDMYPAST - WAR SERVICES OLD MELBURNIANS
Members of the Old Melburnians Society who served in World War 1. Old Melburnians had attended Melbourne Grammar School.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/war-services-old-melburnians
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS WOUNDED AND MISSING PERSONS FILES
This gives details of Australian personnel reported as wounded or missing during the First World War.
PRISONERS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS HISTORICAL ARCHIVES
This includes index cards for prisoners and detainees captured and sent to detention camps during World War 1 held by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - WORLD WAR 1 SERVICE RECORDS
Service records for all military personnel who served in World War 1 are held by the National Archives of Australia and all have been digitized. These included people who enlisted but did not serve overseas.
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, WORLD WAR 1 SERVICE RECORDS 1914-1920
This collection includes service dossiers for Australians who served in the First World War in the following units:
The dossiers also include records for personnel who served in Australia rather than overseas. Records for wartime service in the Royal Australian Navy are not included.
The dossiers include attestation papers and service and casualty forms; they are not complete service records.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=60864
FOLD3 - WORLD WAR 1 SERVICE RECORDS
This includes the images of the service records.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - WORLD WAR 1 ENLISTMENT APPLICATIONS
They are the unsuccessful enlistment applications. These have all been indexed into RecordSearch and some have been digitized.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - EXEMPTION COURT RECORDS
The Australian government tried to bring in conscription in 1916; a plebiscite of the Australian people stopped them doing this. Exemption courts were held in 1916 for men trying to get exemptions from compulsory military service. Exemption court records are held by Public Record Office Victoria. See Court Records.
The exemption courts may have been reported in newspapers. See Newspapers, Magazines and Journals.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - SECOND WORLD WAR NOMINAL ROLL
This lists Australia’s defence forces that served during World War 2.
http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL - SECOND WORLD WAR PRISONERS OF WAR AND MISSING PERSONS
This gives details of Australian Military Forces prisoners of war and missing personnel from operations in the Far East and South West Pacific Islands as at 30 June 1944.
FINDMYPAST - AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES WW2 MISSING AND PRISONERS OF WAR
These are transcribed records. They are searchable.
ANCESTRY - UNITED KINGDOM, ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR, 1939-1945
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61642
FOLD 3 - UNITED KINGDOM, ALLIED PRISONERS OF WAR, 1939-1945
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE ARCHIVES - AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY NATIONAL OFFICE MISSING, WOUNDED AND PRISONER OF WAR ENQUIRY CARD INDEX
This has been digitized and may be accessed through the Archives Catalogue.
https://archives.unimelb.edu.au/
NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF AUSTRALIA - WORLD WAR 2 MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS
Service records for all military personnel who served in World War 2 are held by the National Archives of Australia and some have been digitized.
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, WORLD WAR 2 MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS 1939-1945
This collection includes service records for Australians who served in the Second World War in the following units:
These are not images of service records but extracted information.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=61172
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA, WORLD WAR II SECOND AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCES AND CITIZEN MILITARY FORCES SERVICE RECORDS 1939-1947 (B883, B884)
These records were provided by the National Archives of Australia. This collection contains service documents for individuals serving for the AIF (Second Australian Imperial Forces) or CMF (Citizen Military Forces) during World War II.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/61987/
FOLD3 - AUSTRALIA WORLD WAR 2 SERVICE RECORDS
This collection includes service records for Australians who served in the Second World War in the following units:
This includes the images of the service records.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - KOREAN WAR NOMINAL ROLL
This lists Australia’s defence forces that served during the Korean War.
http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/
FINDMYPAST - MALAYAN EMERGENCY COMMONWEALTH DEATHS 1948-1960
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - VIETNAM WAR NOMINAL ROLL
This lists Australia’s defence forces that served during the Vietnam War.
http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS - PRELIMINARY GULF WAR NOMINAL ROLL
This lists Australia’s defence forces that served during the First Gulf War.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE VICTORIA - BATTLE TO FARM, WW1 SOLDIER SETTLEMENT RECORDS IN VICTORIA
Soldier Settlements were land settlement schemes where soldiers who had returned from the war were able to lease land. They are searchable.
http://soldiersettlement.prov.vic.gov.au/
FINDMYPAST - VICTORIA, WORLD WAR ONE SOLDIER SETTLERS INDEX
Soldier Settlements were land settlement schemes where soldiers who had returned from the war were able to lease land. The original records are held by Public Record Office Victoria. The index is searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/victoria-world-war-one-soldier-settlers
STATE LIBRARY OF VICTORIA - MUFTI 1934-2000
The official journal of the Returned and Services League (RSL) Victorian Branch.
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/mufti
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
This is located in Canberra. It houses a collection that commemorates the defence force of Australia. This includes information about people, photographs, private and official records, manuscripts, art, sound and film recordings, published and digitized collections, technology and heraldry. It also includes books, articles, unit histories and information about military events.
SHRINE OF REMEMBRANCE
This is located in Melbourne. It commemorates Victorians who served in the defence forces.
https://www.shrine.org.au/Home
AUSTRALIAN ARMY HISTORY UNIT
https://www.army.gov.au/our-heritage/history
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY HISTORY
http://www.navy.gov.au/History
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE HISTORY
https://www.airforce.gov.au/about-us/history-and-traditions
THE ANZAC PORTAL
The full name of the website is: Anzac Portal: Education and Community Awareness for the Anzac Centenary 2014-2018. This website is maintained by the Department of Veteran Affairs. It contains information about Australia’s wartime history.
http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/
AUSTRALIANS AT WAR FILM ARCHIVE
This website is maintained by University of New South Wales, Canberra.
http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/
FOLD3 - MILITARY RECORDS
This is an Ancestry website. Whilst its focus is mainly United States military history, it has military records and publications about many military conflicts. It includes Australian World War 1 Military Service Records, Australian World War 2 Military Service Records, United Kingdom Allied Prisoners of War 1939-1945, Australia Military Book Collection, Military Books, Airmen Died in the Great War and Distinguished Conduct Medals.
DIGGER HISTORY
Unofficial history of the Australian and New Zealand Armed Services
http://www.diggerhistory.info/
THE AIF PROJECT
This website is maintained by University of New South Wales, Canberra. It details Australian ANZACs in World War 1.
https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/index.html
DISCOVERING ANZACS
This website is maintained by National Archives of Australia and Archives New Zealand. It includes a diverse selection of government records about Australians and New Zealanders in World War 1 and the Boer War. Personal photographs, memorabilia and stories may be uploaded.
https://discoveringanzacs.naa.gov.au/
LEADERS OF ANZAC
This website details the officers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who died at Gallipoli in 1915.
ANGELL PRODUCTIONS PTY. LTD. - NURSES WHO SERVED IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC AREA
This includes both civilian and military nurses.
http://www.angellpro.com.au/women.htm
LOST MEDALS - AUSTRALIA
http://www.lostmedalsaustralia.com/
MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
GEELONG MILITARY RE-ENACTMENT GROUP
This is a sub group of the Military Historical Society Geelong Inc.
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARTILLERY HISTORICAL COMPANY
http://www.artilleryhistory.org/
NAVAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
https://www.navyhistory.org.au/
THE AVIATION HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA INC.
AMERICAN CIVIL WAR VETERANS BURIED IN AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND (PANDORA)
This website version dated 12 February 2014 is sourced from Pandora.
https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20140212050412/http://www.acwv.info/
FAMILIES AND FRIENDS OF THE FIRST AIF INC.
The Families and Friends of the First AIF Inc (FFFAIF Inc) is dedicated to Digger heritage and keeping the memory alive of the First AIF Diggers who served in the Great War of 1914 -1918.
THE SPITFIRE ASSOCIATION
Spitfires were aircraft flown before, during and after World War 2.
https://www.spitfireassociation.com/
RATS OF TOBRUK ASSOCIATION INC.
In World War 2 Tobruk in Libya was besieged in 1941. About 14,000 Australian soldiers were there during the siege, adopting the name “Rats of Tobruk”.
http://www.ratsoftobrukassociation.org.au/
AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL
This is located in Canberra. It houses a collection that commemorates the defence force of Australia. This includes information about people, photographs, private and official records, manuscripts, art, sound and film recordings, published and digitized collections, technology and heraldry. It also includes books, articles, unit histories and information about military events.
RAAF MUSEUM POINT COOK
https://www.airforce.gov.au/raaf-museum
ANCESTRY - AUSTRALIA'S FIGHTING SONS OF THE EMPIRE. PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF AUSTRALIANS IN THE GREAT WAR
Australia's Fighting Sons of The Empire. Portraits and Biographies of Australians in the Great War. Perth, Australia: Palmer and Ashworth, 1919. This may be browsed and it is searchable.
https://search.ancestry.com.au/search/db.aspx?dbid=30261
ANCESTRY - ANZAC MEMORIAL, 1914-1918
Anzac Memorial. Sydney, Australia: New South Wales Branch Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, 1919. Much of the book is comprised of a Roll of Honour, listing nearly 20,000 Australians who died in the war. This may be browsed and it is searchable.
https://www.ancestry.com.au/search/collections/61966/
FINDMYPAST - ALL AUSTRALIA MEMORIAL
The All Australia Memorial was published after the war and contains war stories and biographical details of those who died in service between August 1914 and December 1918. It is searchable.
https://search.findmypast.com.au/search-world-Records/all-australia-memorial
If you have questions or problems with this site, email the Web Administrator.