First World War: Oral history and realia

Oral histories

Oral histories are collected by the National Library in order to record the voices that document Australia's social and cultural life. From the earliest recordings in the 1950's until recently the voices and memories of the First World War have been preserved. Increasingly interviews, as well as transcripts and summaries, are available online. Types of interviews include primary and secondary accounts of the war. Interviewees include veterans of the war from each of the forces, civilians on the homefront, soldier settlers, authors including Ion Idriess and Alan Moorehead, and artists including Sir Daryl Lindsay.

Catalogue search tips

In addition to using the name of a person or an occupation to find oral history material, the following subject headings may be used:

Keywords such as the following can also be used:

'[name of person] interviews', for example 'Smout interviews'
'[object] realia', for example 'medals realia'

Use the ‘Limit your search' options to limit your search to audio material.

If an interview is available to listen to online, a 'Listen' icon will appear at the top of the catalogue record. Click on this or the 'Online Access' link within the catalogue record to hear the recording.

Oral history collections

There are a number of oral history collections containing interviews with veterans and their families. These are:

Alec Campbell

The Library holds an oral history recording with Alec Campbell, Australia's last First World War veteran.

Jonathan King & Arthur H. Smout, (2004), Gallipoli : our last man standing : the extraordinary life of Alec Campbell, nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3102859

Realia

Although the Library does not actively collect realia, items may be selectively acquired, especially when they have high levels of visual content. An object may also be acquired as part of a multi-format collection or because it has strong links with material already held. The Library holds a number of unique items of realia connected with the First World War, some of which are especially poignant.

The Anzac medal was sculpted by Dora Ohlfsen after the First World War and produced and sold to raise funds for Australians and New Zealanders maimed in the war.

Dora Ohlfsen, (1921), Anzac medal, nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139342587

Pope & Bradley, (1917), [Pilot's jacket worn by Charles Kingsford-Smith in W.W.I.], nla.gov.au/nla.obj-139592193

Case study

"Do you have information on the Anzac medal?"

The Anzac medal, was sculpted by Dora Ohlfsen after the First World War and produced and sold to raise funds for Australians and New Zealanders maimed in the war. To find out further information on this medal we searched:

Trove digitised newspapers service and found an article titled 'Dora Ohlfsen's dedication to bravery' from the newspaper Register (Adelaide) of 19th January 1922 which provides background to the medal as well as biographical information on this 'famous Australian sculptress'.
Women Australia, provided not just a portrait, but her obituary and a number of other related resources.