War Memorial digitises WWI eyewitness accounts

The Australian War Memorial has digitised and is making available online more than 14,000 archival eyewitness accounts of the First World War.

Diary entries, letters, photos, films, maps, art posters and objects have been digitised and are now being progressively published online, bringing a new level of accessibility to the archival records which had until now been only available to access from Canberra at the Memorial’s physical reading room.

Australian War Memorial Research Centre Head Robyn Van Dyk said a number of the records detail Australian soldiers’ reactions to the signing of the Armistice which brought an end to the war at 11 am on 11 November 1918.

“Many of the letters and diaries on the Memorial’s website record how people reacted to hearing of the end of a very long and horrific war. Some also took part in and recorded various celebrations. Many wrote about their relief of not having to fight anymore; for others there was a hint of disbelief. Others reflected on the loss of friends and family,” she said.

“Personal collections such as letters and diaries give us a deep insight into how many Australians felt; you get a sense of what it was like for those individuals. Thanks to this project, more and more of these collections can now be accessed online.”

The Australian War Memorial’s digital records allow viewers to zoom in to the text and the photographs for a clearer view. They are also being made searchable through the site’s collection search feature.

Image: Supplied.