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.

THIS PLACE THEY CALL TOBRUK

NAME: H.B.  Paterson

DATE: 1941

UNIT: AIF

LOCATION: Middle East

War has produced some memorable poetry over the years with the name Paterson among the best.
 

JOHN PETERS BROUGHT NEWS OF MISSING PRISONERS OF WAR

NAME: John Peters

DATE: 1942 - 1944

UNIT: Civilian

LOCATION: Muchea, WA

John Peters spent a great deal of time listening to the radio during World War II. But the programs he tuned in to on his short wave set were not for his own entertainment.
 

THE SINKING OF HMAS CANBERRA

NAME: Francis Pickup

DATE: 1942

UNIT: HMAS Canberra

LOCATION: the Battle of the Solomon Islands

Francis Pickup was a signaller on board HMAS Canberra in August 1942 when the ship, along with HMAS Australia and HMAS Hobart (light cruiser 6 inch guns) plus a large American Amphibian Force of aircraft carriers, heavy cruisers, destroyers and transports, with accompanying support vehicles, was involved in the Battle of the Solomon Islands.
 

WOMEN ANSWERED THE CALL DURING THE WAR

NAME: Bonnie Pickup

DATE: 1941

UNIT: WAAF

LOCATION: Sydney

In 1941 when Australia was threatened with Japanese invasion, the call came for women to take up the men's jobs to release them for the front line, and they were also challenged to join the armed services.
 

AUSSIES

NAME: Nanette Punch

DATE: 1941

UNIT: 20th Australian Infantry Brigade, AIF

LOCATION: Tobruk

Text of a propaganda leaflet dropped by German aircraft aimed at Allied troops in Tobruk.
 

CRICKET MATCH BETWEEN 20 AUST INF BDE HQ AND 107 R.H.A

NAME:  Punch

DATE: 1941

UNIT: 20th Australian Infantry Brigade

LOCATION: Tobruk

Even in the midst of war, Australian's still loved their sport. Following is a set of rules governing play - taking into account local conditions - from a match at Tobruk.
 

SIGNALLER LUCKY TO ESCAPE FROM SINGAPORE

NAME: Allan Quick

DATE: 1942

UNIT: L Section, 8 Division Signals

LOCATION: Singapore, Ceylon

For someone who was a signaller trained to keep things short and to the point, Allan Quick wrote remarkably thoughtful and detailed letters home from the war.
 

PREMONITION SAVES HIS LIFE

NAME: Frederick  Quill

DATE: 1944

UNIT: RAAF attached to USAAF

LOCATION: New Guinea

An excerpt from diary of Frederick Quill, RAAF, describes a patrol with US troops and an ambush by the Japanese.
 

JOHN QUINN SURVIVED BOMBING AND TORPEDO ATTACKS

NAME: John  Quinn

DATE: 1939 - 1946

UNIT: Various DEMS

LOCATION: The high seas

John Quinn certainly had an interesting and exciting war. As a Petty Officer gunner he served on a variety of Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships (DEMS) which regularly carried troops and supplies to and from war zones and even brought prisoners of war to Australia.
 

AUSTRALIAN HORSEMEN AT HOME IN THE KELLY GANG

NAME: Pat Reed

DATE: 1941

UNIT: C Squadron, 6th Division Cavalry

LOCATION: Syria

The Kelly Gang was one of the most unusual Allied fighting units during World War II. Made up from an assortment of 70 or so men mainly from C Squadron, 6th Division Cavalry, they rode on captured horses in the Syrian campaign.