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First World War: Online resources

Some selected online First World War resources, including websites and online subscription databases, which may be useful to researchers. These resources are both Australian and international.

Australian websites

International websites

photo of soldiers waving flags and cheering as they walk down a street

Herbert H Fishwick & Fairfax Corporation, Crowd celebrates Armistice Day in Hunter Street, Sydney, 1918, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163312494

Herbert H Fishwick & Fairfax Corporation, Crowd celebrates Armistice Day in Hunter Street, Sydney, 1918, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-163312494

Online resources at the National Library

There are a number of online Australian databases, both current and archival, subscribed to by the National Library that provide access to information on the First World War. They can be found on our eResources service under the Browse eResources tab.

The eResources portal provides access to a number of multidisciplinary resources useful to research in to the First World War. These include full text periodical databases, newspapers and indexes. Some of our resources can be accessed from home or work by Australian residents who are registered readers of the Library.

Resources may be available as:

  • Freely available resources: Websites freely available to anyone over the Internet
  • Licenced digital resources: Databases available by using your Library login
  • Onsite digital resources: Resources available inside the National Library building
Page published: 17 Jan 2024

Also in this guide

An image of a book cover called 'The Anzac book' with a colour drawing of an Anzac soldier holding a rifle with a bandage around his head, and a torn, tattered flag showing mostly the Union jack'.

Australia. Army. Australian Imperial Force (1914-1921). (1916). The Anzac book / written and illustrated in Gallipolli by the men of Anzac. London ; New York ; Toronto ; Melbourne : Cassell nla.gov.au/nla.obj-18456506

Focus: Gallipoli

On April 25, 1915, the Australian troops, together with troops from New Zealand, Britain and France, landed at what came to be called ANZAC Cove.

Research guide
newspaper clipping about a Gundagai soldier decorated in World War 1

GUNDAGAI SOLDIER DECORATED. (1918, December 31). The Gundagai Times and Tumut, Adelong and Murrumbidgee District Advertiser (NSW : 1868 - 1931), p. 2., nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130752258

Focus: Finding a soldier

If you are looking for a soldier,  there are many published resources at the National Library to assist you.

Research guide
colourful poster with a map of Australia, flags from 6 different countries, and the words 'Australia's First Expeditionary Force'

Australia's first expeditionary force, 1914, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-1574418

Printed collections

The Australian and overseas printed collections at the National Library contain substantial material which can support research into the First World War.

Research guide
newspaper clipping saying 'Britain at War. Invasion of Belgium. Declaration by Germany.'

(1914, August 6). The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), p. 7., nla.gov.au/nla.news-page1278820

Newspapers and magazines

Newspapers provide an invaluable resource for researching World War I and the National Library holds the largest collection of Australian and overseas newspapers in Australia in both print and digital formats. 

Research guide

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