Series number

AWM177

Series title

Australian Army commanders' diaries, duplicates

Series contents date range

1965-1972

Extent

50 metres (approx)

Access conditions

Subject to the Australian Archives Act (1983)

Agency controlling

Department of Defence

Custodial agency

Australian War Memorial

Function and provenance

Commanders' diaries were prepared by officers commanding headquarters, units and detachments serving in South Vietnam, as a record of operational activity during their service abroad.  The aim of the diary was to provide data on which to base future improvements in Army training, equipment, organisation, administration, and to provide future historians with a record of activities of units and formations in operational periods. 

During operational periods the diary was compiled in duplicate by commanders of all formations, each branch of the staff at formation headquarters commanded by a brigadier or above, heads of services not below the range of lieutenant colonel, personal staffs and officers holding special appointments, unit commanders and commanders of a detachment of a unit when so ordered.  The original and duplicate
copies were sent to the OIC, Military History Section, AHQ on different dates about one month apart to avoid the risk of loss. 

The majority of the Commanders’ diaries covering the Vietnam War were transferred from the Department of Defence to the Australian War Memorial (AWM) during 1982 and 1983.  These consignments included both original diaries and separate duplicates.  The originals were designated series AWM95, and the duplicates series AWM177.

Contents

The series contains duplicates of Australian Army Commanders’ diaries during their deployment to South Vietnam.  It is a very patchy and incomplete set of records.

System of arrangement and control

These records arrived at the AWM in a largely uncontrolled state, and have had no further arrangement work since.

Using the series

This series is rarely used, since the originals (AWM95) cover most researchers’ needs.  AWM95 does however have gaps in its coverage, and for this reason, series AWM177 may be checked to see if the missing material is held there.

Series AWM177 is not listed at item level on RecordSearch.  The series dossier does have lists giving some indication of what is held, however these lists are quite old and their accuracy is unknown.

Sources

AWM administrative file, AWM177 Series dossier

AWM95 series note.