Almost a million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War. Many of those who came home chose not to talk about their experiences.

The Great Search uncovered a previously unknown story about Australian airmen who, when they ran out of bombs, decided to drop bottles on the enemy. To the distracted foe, the bottles sounded just like shells.

Another story begins with a photo of an Aussie Beaufort Bomber, minutes after being shot down over the Pacific and turns into one of the most remarkable stories of survival behind enemy lines you are ever likely to read.

LETTERS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR TROOPS SERVING OVERSEAS

NAME: Cliff Secombe

DATE: 1941

UNIT: 2/1st Pioneer Battalion

LOCATION: Libya

Cliff Secombe was with the 2nd/1st Pioneer Battalion in Libya under attack from German aircraft. He had just received a welcome letter from his girl friend Louie Pritchard and was writing in reply on 29 April 1941 when 'Jerry' sent his dive-bombers over once again.
 

MYRTLE'S SLING SHOWS HOW IT'S DONE

NAME: Myrtle Sheppard

DATE: 1939 - 1945

UNIT: Civilian

LOCATION: Qld, Australia

When war broke out in 1939, Myrtle Sheppard (Nunn), like many other young Australians, wanted to do her bit for the war effort. She thought she'd like to be a nurse, but her mother (whose husband was a World War I veteran and had died when Myrtle was two years old) was reluctant to let her daughter join up because it would mean she'd be posted away from her home area.
 

THE HALF-PENNY SLOUCH HAT

NAME: Myrtle Sheppard

DATE: 1939 - 1945

UNIT: Civilian

LOCATION: Qld, Australia

Since time immemorial soldiers have filled in idle moments with an astonishing variety of activities, ranging from playing board games to making handcrafts using whatever material was readily available.
 

LANCASTER PILOT SURVIVED NUMEROUS SCRAPES

NAME: Frank Slade

DATE: 1944

UNIT: 156 Squadron RAAF

LOCATION: Europe

Squadron Leader Frank Slade of the RAAF had made many raids on German targets during World War II so another trip to Hamburg on 28 July 1944 was just another day at the office
 

AIRMEN SURVIVED 47 DAYS AT SEA DURING ESCAPE FROM JAPANESE

NAME: Athol Snook

DATE: 1942

UNIT: 84 Squadron RAF

LOCATION: Java

One of the most incredible escapes made during World War II involved 12 airmen who sailed in an open boat from Java [now Indonesia] to Australia to escape the Japanese, a journey that took 47 days.
 

'ONE THING MORE - GOODBYE'

NAME: Athol Snook

DATE: 1942

UNIT: 100 Squadron RAAF

LOCATION: New Guinea

Flying Officer Athol Snook was a survivor. In 1942, he spent 47 days at sea in a lifeboat sailing from Java to Australia with 11 comrades to escape from the Japanese. Then, on a fateful night in New Guinea later that year, his plane was grounded while the rest of the squadron went to attack Japanese shipping. Three planes failed to make it.
 

SAPPER RECALLS YEARS FIGHTING IN NEW GUINEA

NAME: Bill Stanbury

DATE: 1943 - 1946

UNIT: 15th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers

LOCATION: New Guinea

Sapper Bill Stanbury had an eventful war. It started off badly in December 1942 when, after being refused pre-embarkation leave, he went Absent Without Leave, in a bid to see his wife as she was about to give birth to their first child.
 

MORALE BOOSTER FLIGHT TOOK THEM UNDER THE HARBOUR BRIDGE

NAME: Vernon Stannard

DATE: 1943

UNIT: No 1 General Reconnaissance School, RAAF

LOCATION: Sydney, Australia

Flying an aircraft under the Sydney Harbour Bridge is not a common occurrence. On the rare occasions that it has been achieved, the pilot has generally become an overnight celebrity.
 

WOMEN PLAYED MAJOR ROLE IN MUSTARD GAS TESTS

NAME: Sylvia Stoltz

DATE: 1943 - 1945

UNIT: Australian Women's Army Service

LOCATION: Queensland

Work carried out by a group of young service women who took part in chemical warfare testing in North Queensland during World War II was kept secret for 30 years after the war had ended.
 

TO HAVE A MATE, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A MATE

NAME: John  Tesoriero

DATE: 1943 - 1945

UNIT: 2nd Corps Signals

LOCATION: New Guinea

When the chips are down, enemy air raids are a constant menace, the climate is debilitating and you're missing your family at home, that's when you need a mate.