World War I and Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander visitors are kindly advised that this website includes images, sounds and names of people who have passed.

All users should be aware that some topics or historical content may be culturally sensitive, offensive or distressing, and that some images may contain nudity or are of people not yet identified. Certain words, terms or descriptions may reflect the author's/creator's attitude or that of the period in which they were written, but are now considered inappropriate in today's context.

Key to library resources

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Middle East Campaign

After the Gallipoli campaign most of the Australian Imperial Force were sent to the Western Front.

The rest of the troops, including the Australian Light Horse, were sent to the Middle East to defend the Suez Canal and the Sinai peninsula. In 1917 Australian and Allied troops advanced into Palestine capturing Gaza and Jerusalem. By the following year they had occupied Lebanon and Syria. On 30 October 1918 Turkey surrendered.

In our World War I collection we have many diaries and letters from soldiers who fought in the Middle East Campaign including:

Search our catalogue to find more diaries and letters about the Middle East Campaign. Here are some keywords and subject terms to use in your search:

ebooks

Photographs

 

Newspapers

Various units within the Australian Imperial Force produced their own newspapers.

The Imperial Camel Corps' own newspaper was called Barrak: the Camel Corps review. The Australian Field Ambulance posted to the Middle East published The Cacolet: journal of the Australian Camel Field Ambulance. These newspapers were filled with humorous stories, poetry and photographs.

 

WWI souvenir

Letter written on German officer's cuff, 1917. This is a man's shirt cuff which was retrieved by an Australian serviceman from a German officer's belongings 'Somewhere in Palestine', November 1917.

 

Copying, publishing or purchasing digital copies

You can make copies of pictures for research and study purposes by:

  • using a digital camera
  • using our microfilm reader printers 
  • ordering paper or electronic copies
  • ordering high quality digital scans  

You need to contact us for permission to publish our original materials. You must also acknowledge the Library and provide the correct location details. 

Find out more about copying and purchasing digital copies.