Accession AA1969/275 comprises a partial set of photocopies of Stanley Melbourne Bruce's original monthly war files contained in series M100.  The accession contains three copies of each monthly war file for the months 'September 1939' to 'August 1941'. The copies were made in the Prime Minister's Department in the 1960s for reference purposes when the originals were briefly sent to Australia from England. Each item contains correspondence, typescript copies of cables, reports, memoranda, and records of meetings, discussions and interviews, including notes of meetings with other Dominion High Commissioners and with British ministers and public servants.  The accession also contains copies of cables and correspondence exchanged with Australian ministers.       

The papers covers numerous aspects and events concerning the first two years of World War II including: negotiations between Britain and Germany; the political and war situation in Europe and the Middle East; Anglo-American cooperation; the role of Dominion countries in the war; shipping; the Empire Air Training Scheme; the dropping of leaflets over Germany; the manufacture of fighting equipment; prices and exports of Australian wool and food supplies; Chinese-Japanese relations; Anglo-Japanese relations; German-Soviet relations; war aims and propaganda; the bombing of London; the situation in the Pacific; prisoners of war and details of specific battles and incidents.  

See the series notes for M100, the original monthly war files, for a more detailed description of the contents of the full set of war files (September 1939 - August 1945).  

Each photocopied monthly war file in AA1969/275 contains a detailed index, except for item 19 (war file for 'March 1941').