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.

RUMOURS SWEPT THROUGH THE RANKS

NAME: LJ Boyd

DATE: 1941

UNIT: 3 Field Company RAE

LOCATION: Tobruk

Rumours and gossip played a part in every soldier’s life. In training and operations, soldiers craved news and seized on rumours of movements and actions in which they might become involved. Rumours broke the monotony of service life and gave hope of improved conditions.
 

ADAPTABLE JEEP ON THE RIGHT LINES

NAME: Ron Boyden

DATE: 1945

UNIT: 2/3rd Anti-Tank Unit

LOCATION: Borneo

Jeeps were real work horses in World War II and they turned up in the most unusual places.
 

FOLLOWING IN THE FAMILY FOOTSTEPS

NAME: Arthur Boyden

DATE: 1942 - 1945

UNIT: 1/12th Royal Australian Engineers

LOCATION: Malaya

Cpl Arthur Boyden had a big family reputation to live up when he served in World War II. Four of his brothers had fought in World War I. Now, here he was with the 1/12th Royal Australian Engineers in Malaya waiting for the Japanese to attack.
 

MOTHER WROTE LETTERS NOT KNOWING IF HER SON WAS ALIVE

NAME: Annie 'Daisy' Boyden

DATE: 1942

UNIT: 12th Field Company, RAE

LOCATION: Singapore

When Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942, almost 15,000 thousand Australian troops were taken prisoner.
 

OPERATION SABRE HELPS END WAR IN THE PACIFIC

NAME: Ken Briggs

DATE: 1945

UNIT: Operation Sabre

LOCATION: Saigon River delta

It seems hard to believe that a piece of cable 45cm long could have a profound effect on the outcome of the war but that's how it was.
 

SOLDIERS ISSUED WITH BROOM STICKS INSTEAD OF GUNS

NAME: Jack Brinkworth

DATE: 1939 - 1945

UNIT: 2/2nd Infantry Battalion

LOCATION: Australia, Middle East

When World War II broke out on 3 September 1939, Jack Brinkworth was living in Gresford. On his first day off work, 7 September, he rode his bike the 28 miles to Maitland to the Drill Hall and put his name and address on the notice board to enlist, the second person to do so.
 

KEITH SERVED IN BOTH THE ARMY AND THE RAAF IN WORLD WAR II

NAME: Keith Morris Brown

DATE: 1939 - 1945

UNIT: 6th Div 2/2 Field Engineers, RAE, 18th NEI Squadron

LOCATION: Middle East, Pacific

After Keith Morris Brown was wounded while fighting in the Western Desert he was subsequently discharged from the Army in 1942 as "medically unfit for service". He soon decided civilian life was not for him so he signed up with the RAAF instead.
 

MERCHANT SEAMAN TRAVELLED THE WORLD DURING THE WAR

NAME: Brian Foliot  Cane

DATE: 1939 - 1945

UNIT: Merchant Seaman

LOCATION: The high seas

Living in a house that looked out over the Derwent River and having access to the many trading ships that unloaded their cargoes in Hobart, it was hardly surprising that Brian Cane became a merchant seaman
 

CHANGE ALLEY

NAME: Paul Carn, Through Magazine

DATE: 1941

UNIT: Signals 8th Australian Division

LOCATION: Singapore

Through magazine was the official journal of Signals 8th Australian Division. The first edition was produced in Singapore in December 1941, shortly before Singapore fell.
 

A VISIT TO HITLER'S STUDY

NAME: Neal Carter

DATE: 1945

UNIT: RAAF 451 Squadron

LOCATION: Berlin

Neal Carter was stationed in Germany with RAAF 451 Squadron, British Occupation Forces in November 1945.