Historical Societies - Family Research

Image: Black and white photograph showing the Allen family in Melbourne on ANZAC Day, 1935 or 1936. They have watched the ANZAC Day march and are walking to the ceremony at the Shrine of Remembrance in the King's Domain parklands, adjacent to St Kilda Road.

There are a number of historical societies, associations and organisations, most of them web-based, which can offer a great deal of assistance, advice, guidance and information to novice researchers. A non-exhaustive list includes:

• Naval Historical Society of Australia (http://www.navyhistory.org.au/)
• Military Historical Society of Australia (www.mhsa.org.au)
• Aviation Historical Society of Australia (http://www.ahsa.org.au/)
• Families and Friends of the First AIF (http://fffaif.org.au/)
• New Zealand Military Historical Society (http://nzmhs.org.nz/)
• Gallipoli Association (http://www.gallipoli-association.org/)
• Western Front Association (http://www.greatwar.co.uk/organizations/the-western-front-association.htm)
• Trenches on the Web (http://www.worldwar1.com/trenchesontheweb.htm)
• firstworldwar.com (http://www.firstworldwar.com/battles/gf.htm)
• Turkey in the First World War (http://www.turkeyswar.com/
• The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre (http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/)

If you think your society or association can help people in their journey of discovery I would encourage you to add a comment with your details.

Enjoy your quest and remember, leave no stone unturned.

Graham Wilson,

About Graham:

Graham served 26 years in the Australian Regular Army, retiring in 1996 as a Warrant Officer Intelligence Analyst. Following five years as a civilian intelligence officer in the Department of Defence, he transferred to the Defence Department’s Directorate of Honours and Awards where he worked for 10 years in the support and policy areas; the latter as Staff Officer Historical Research. Graham retired from the Public Service in February 2011 and now works as a historian. Graham is active in a number of historical and militaria societies and is a prolific author of historical articles; he has been published in Australia, New Zealand, the UK and the USA and has received a number of awards for military history writing. He has published two books, 'Bully Beef and Balderdash' and 'Dust Donkeys and Delusions'. His latest book due for release shortly.