The Army pay files held by the National Archives in Adelaide can be a valuable source of information for a range of users, including family and military historians. These records, originally created for pay accounting purposes, contain personal details about individual soldiers, officers, nurses and some war correspondents and representatives of organisations like the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA), Red Cross and Salvation Army.
Pay records held in Adelaide relate to personnel from 1939 onwards who enlisted in South Australia or were transferred tothe state during World War II.
Army pay files typically detail the following information:
They usually also include age, date of birth, address, next of kin, name of allottee, religion and the names ages and addresses of the member's immediate family (including siblings). Sometimes previous occupations, physical descriptions, notes about vaccinations and extra information about families is recorded.
Wills, marriage certificates, children's birth certificates, personal letters and even death certificates have been discovered in the collection.
Pay books are often contained within pay files. These books were usually carried by the soldiers in their battle dress breast pocket. They note personal details, rate of pay and promotions, and the place in which the soldier was paid each fortnight – effectively plotting soldiers' movements in the service. In rare cases, the pay books give a more personal insight with mementos like handwritten notes of friends' home addresses and prayer cards tucked within the covers.
To locate pay files for a particular person you will need to know full name, service number, unit, and some idea of dates of service. Pay files from the series listed below may be viewed in the Adelaide reading room. Photocopies of the records are available for purchase.
Army pay files for those South Australians who served with the First AIF are held in Canberra
 | Returned personnel | 1914–23 | D2994 | ||
| Deceased personnel | 1914–23 | D2994 | ||
Inquiries about these files, including the purchase of photocopies, should be directed to the Archives National Reference Service.
National Reference Service
National Archives of Australia
PO Box 7425
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610
Tel: 1300 886 881
Fax: 1300 886 882
Email: ref@naa.gov.au
The National Archives holds the service records of those who served with the First AIF in World War I and those who served with the Army, Royal Australia Navy or the Royal Australian Air Force in World War II. Photocopies of Army or RAAF service records may be purchased for $25 per record (includes postage). Black and white photocopies of the Navy service card are provided without charge.
Forward inquiries about these records to the Archives Defence Service Records service (see address below). In order to identify the record you are after you will need to supply the full name and service number of the person, and (for World War II inquiries) advise if the person is still living.
Defence Service Records
National Archives of Australia
PO Box 7425
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610
Tel: 1300 886 881
Fax: 02 6241 3499
Email: servicerecords@naa.gov.au
Comments or other feedback can be sent to archives@naa.gov.au
updated August 2004