Records

Each record focuses on a single item from the National Archives' collection. Some records contain extra information to help you interpret them.

• Record

  

  Acceptance of refugees during World War II – letter on behalf of Prime Minister John Curtin

  A letter from 1941 written by John J Dedman in response to a letter from Robert J Caldwell, about the acceptance of refugees escaping Nazi oppression.

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  AIF recruitment poster – Are you shooting breakers when you should be behind a gun?

  This is a recruitment poster for the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It shows a photograph of a soldier lying on the ground shooting a Bren light machine gun.

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  Anti-Japan World War II propaganda poster – Now we must smash them!

  A black-and-white Australian World War II propaganda poster.

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  Artist Sidney Nolan discharged from the army

  This is the form completed by the Australian Military Forces, confirming that Corporal Sidney Robert Nolan had been discharged in absentia.

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  Asian refugees admitted via Certificate of Exemption – excerpt from Arthur Calwell's speech

  An excerpt from Arthur Calwell's speech about the threat to "White Australia" by Asian refugees admitted to Australia via a Certificate of Exemption.

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  Attestation form from pearl worker Samsudin Bin Katib's service file

  This is an attestation form from 20 June 1942, regarding pearl worker Samsudin Bin Katib.

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  Australia declares war with Japan – excerpt of Prime Minister John Curtin's address to the nation

  Excerpt from ABC radio broadcast of the Prime Minister's address to the nation.

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  Australian Army Medical Women's Service – Government recruitment brochure

  This is a government recruitment brochure designed to encourage women to join the Australian Army Medical Women's Service.

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  Australian soldiers at a bomb site in Darwin, World War II

  This is a black-and-white photograph of six Australian soldiers at a bomb site in Darwin, Northern Territory, in 1942.