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Military history

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A black and white image of two women. One is seated and the other is standing with her arm around the seated woman.

Students of Taisei Girls High School in Japan c.1944. Photo courtesy of Harue Goto.

Grief in World War II expressed in art and fashion with Dr Tets Kimura

Dr Tets Kimura presented a lecture on his 2023 National Library Fellowship research into how grief was experienced during the Asia-Pacific War in two different nations, Australia and Japan, and how it is identifiable in art and fashion.

Event
Video
Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, including one full page and a cartoon, about the Gamboa family

Album of newspaper cuttings relating to the Gamboa family from the Papers of the Gamboa family, 1949–99, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn997866

Gamboa: A family defined by race

Follow the story of Lorenzo Gamboa and his fight to return to his Australian-born wife and children after his deportation in 1946. 

Blog
cover of book The Cambridge history of the First World War

J. M. Winter, The Cambridge history of the First World War / edited by Jay Winter and the Editorial Committee of the International Research Centre of the Historical de la Grande Guerre Cambridge University Press Cambridge ; New York 2014, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6446952

First World War research guide

The National Library of Australia has extensive holdings of material concerning Australia's involvement in the First World War.

Research guide
Detail of the cover of book 'In defence of country : life stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander servicemen & women' which features a painting of a First Nations serviceman

Noah Riseman & ANU Press, In defence of country : life stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander servicemen & women (detail), 2016, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn6930656

First Nations military service resources

Our resources can help you find out about your family member’s service history.

Research guide
A black-and-white photograph shows a group of soldiers marching down a street with rifles over their shoulders. They are accompanied by civilians, who walk arm-in-arm with the soldiers, smiling and engaging with the crowd. The street is busy with people, and buildings can be seen in the background.

Fairfax Corporation, Departing troops walking with their families down Macquarie Street, 1914, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-162908974

Find your military ancestors

Trace the military history of your ancestors using resrouces and records from Australia, New Zealand and the British Army at the Library and beyond.

Research guide
Two men talking with each other, Kim Beazley and Caspar Weinberger

Australian Overseas Information Service, Portrait of Kim Beazley with Caspar Weinberger, U.S. Defence Secretary, 1988, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-136622610

Fellowship talk: Defending Australian Territory

Honorary Fellow Associate Professor Andrew Carr discussed his research on the history of Australian defence policy.

Event
Video
Two newspaper front covers in a display case. The headline on both reads, 'Vietnam waifs fly in'.
Elaine Moir: ‘The waif smuggler’ during the Vietnam War

Exploring 1975: The Vietnam War and Operation Babylift

Blog
Man in military uniform with hat smiling

Harry Peters, soldier in the Third Employment Company, c. 1942

Dear Mutzi: Writing a life through letters, memories and imagination

Read about how author Tess Scholfield-Peters explored her grandfather's early life as a teenager fleeing Nazi Germany in her new book 'Dear Mutzi'.

Blog
Cover of the book 'Dear Mutzi'
Dear Mutzi

Tess Scholfield-Peters

Book
NLA Publishing book
There is a pond at the base of this image with manicured gardens stretching up the hill behind it. A semi-enclosed outdoor seating area sits halfway up the image on the right-hand side.

Part of the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre.

Community Heritage Grant: Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre

Learn about the Cowra Japanese Garden and Cultural Centre, recipient of a 2025 Community Heritage Grant.

Blog
Welcome parade for Olympic team from Republic of China (Taiwan) Melbourne 1956.

Welcome parade for the Olympic team from the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Melbourne, 1956, courtesy Bruce Lew's family album.

Chinese diaspora in Cold War Australia with Dr Mei-fen Kuo

Dr Mei-fen Kuo presented a lecture on her 2023 National Library Fellowship research into our Chinese-language collections and how that has helped in rethinking the influence of the Cold War on the formation of contemporary Chinese Australian identities.

Event
On the left is the cover of the book 'Fleeced: Unraveling the history of wool and war' by Trish Fitzsimons and Madelyn Shaw. On the right are two smiling women outside on a sunny day with grass and bushes in the background.
Book launch: Fleeced with Trish FitzSimons and Madelyn Shaw

Authors Trish FitzSimons and Madelyn Shaw, in conversation with Annabelle Quince, discussed their new book, Fleeced: Unraveling the History of Wool and War.

Event
Video

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