Military resources relating to Colac and District families are available for viewing at the History Centre. They include the following lists, photographs and archives:
Allan Samuel Spokes – War History – WW2;
Boer War – Lighthorse;
Colac & District Enlistees – WW1 and WW2;
Colac & District teachers – Returned and Killed in action;
Cressy Airbase WW2;
District Honour boards, WW1 – including Birregurra, Warrion and Winchelsea State Schools, Colac High School; (lists, photos)
District War Memorials; (lists, photos)
Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, Gulf, Land Army, National Service and Regular Service; (lists)
Letters of Cpl R J Belyea – WW2;
Photographs – WW1 and WW2, Individual and groups;
Rolls of Honour – Gallipoli, HMAS Sydney, Kakoda Trail, Korean war, Singapore POW; (lists)
Volunteer Defence Corps, The;
Nurses – WW1
See also our World War 2 Honour Roll on this website
The CDFHG library has many military history books which relate to various world conflicts. These books are available for Members to borrow.
There are also books written by local authors and historians – Dawn Peel, Pam & Trevor Jennings and Bruce Picken.
ONLINE RESOURCES for FAMILY RESEARCHERS
Service Records
- National Archives of Australia – full range of Service records which can be downloaded or ordered
- Australian War Memorial – has good coverage of WW1 soldiers and photos, WW2 photos and some Red Cross reports
- DVA’s Nominal Roll – covers WW2, Korean war, Vietnam war and First Gulf war
Stories of Service
- National Library of Australia – reports about service personnel through search of local newspapers including Enlistments/ Embarkation /Wounding/KIA/ Copies of letters sent home– thru TROVE
- Department of Veteran Affairs
- The A.I.F. Project – the AIF database is drawn from a range of official sources including personal files on the National Archives website, and embarkation and Nominal Rolls on the Australian War Memorial site
- Public Record Office Victoria – stories and records of Soldier Settlement in Victoria after the wars.
- Anzac Portal – This is an online museum which displays photographs, diaries and letters relating to the many Australians who served in the Australian Imperial Force during WW1.
- World War II Honour Roll
Memorials
- General – https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials
- Colac War memorials – https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/memorials/187901
- POWs – https://www.powmemorialballarat.com.au/
- Carol’s Memorial Photos – http://www.ozgenonline.com/~Carols_Headstones/Index_War_Memorial.htm
- Virtual War Memorial Australia – https://vwma.org.au/
The Family History Researcher may also wish to contact the Colac RSL and/or visit the Colac War Memorial in the City Square.