The National Archives holds service records and attestation papers for members of the Permanent Military Forces (PMF), the fulltime regular army, and the Citizen Military Forces (CMF), also known as the Militia.
The service records held covering the period between the world wars, are summarised in the table below.
| Series title | Date range | Series number | Location | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | PMF (Permanent Military Forces) and Army Militia personnel dossiers | 1901–40 | B4717 | Melbourne | Items being progressively digitised to RecordSearch – check online |
| Army Militia service records, attestation documents (Form A7) | 1901–40 | B4747 | Melbourne | Online copies available on RecordSearch |
| Army lists | 1923–ongoing | A1194 | Canberra | Listed on RecordSearch – some items have an online copy |
The composition of dossiers varies considerably. Common documents include:
Other documents can include conduct sheets, medical history records, identity photographs, proceedings of discharge, and correspondence concerning aspects of the subject’s service or appointment.
You can use NameSearch to try and find a record from the interwar period.
To purchase a photocopy of a Permanent Military forces personnel dossier or an Army Militia service record, first locate the entry for the record using NameSearch (see above). When you have found the entry, use the ‘Request copy’ button, then order and pay online using our secure eCommerce facility.
A black and white photocopy costs:
• AU$25 (including GST) for purchases within Australia
• AU$28 (GST-free) for purchases made outside Australia
To view an original record in the Melbourne reading room, please submit an advance request to view records form or contact the Melbourne office directly. Contact details are listed on Fact Sheet 1 – Addresses and hours of opening.
For more information on Army records see Fact Sheet 136 – Army service records or browse one of our other fact sheets on defence, armed services and war.