Military Links

The Australian Army History Unit is responsible for developing policy and programs for the collection, conservation, interpretation and promotion of the Australian Army's history.

The Australian War Memorial combines a shrine, a world-class museum, and an extensive archive. The Memorial's purpose is to commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war. Its mission is to assist Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of war and its enduring impact on Australian society.

To perpetuate the memory of the privations and sacrifices of Australian and Allied prisoners of war and the selfless dedication of the medical personnel during the construction of the Burma Thailand Railway by informing current and future generations through all forms of education and particularly with the Annual Quiet Lion Tours to the Burma Thai Railway; the River Kwai; the Three Pagoda Pass; Anzac Day at "Hellfire Pass" and Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.

Story of the POWs of the Japanese including the Medical personnel who cared for them. This will embrace amongst others the POWs of Burma, Thailand (Siam), Burma-Thailand Railway, Sumatra Railway, Changi, Manchuria and Timor.

61,000 Prisoners of War were forced to work on the Burma-Thailand Railway in the most atrocious conditions. There were additionally about 250,000 natives (coolies) who were previously residents of countries including Java, Ambon, Singapore, Malaya, Burma and Tamils who had been working in some of these countries.

The Railway, which was 421 kms long of single track and 1m gauge, was constructed in a little over 12 months. Over this period approximately 13,000 POWs died. This included 6,500 British, 2,800 Dutch and 2,700 Australians. Over the same period it is assessed that 90,000 to 100,000 natives died.

The World War Two Nominal Roll was created to honour and commemorate some one million people who served in Australia's defence forces and the Merchant Navy during this conflict.

The Nominal Roll provides all Australians with access to an index of information from approximately one million records of servicemen and women who were in Australia's defence forces and the Merchant Navy during World War Two.