Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Since 1917, Sydney Technical High School has honoured its students and teachers who served in World War I through annual assemblies and the unveiling of an Honour Board—a lasting tribute to those who fought and died in the conflict. Over the years, the school’s journal kept the community updated on the fates of its students on the battlefield, making the war’s losses a deeply personal tragedy for the school. Each ANZAC Day, the Honour Board became a focal point of remembrance, symbolising the collective memory of the school’s community.

In 2018, the Honour Board was rededicated to ensure that no names were missing, sparking renewed interest in the history of the men—former students and old boys—who had fought in the war. This led to the development of the World War I Biography Project, where History students research the Old Boys listed on the Honour Board. The project not only preserves the legacy of remembrance but also provides students with a unique opportunity to engage in rigorous historical inquiry. By working directly with primary and secondary sources, students connect with their school’s local history in a meaningful way—an approach that fosters critical thinking and, in an age of AI such as ChatGPT, offers a method of learning that cannot be automated.

One of the project's key strengths is its rigorous process, which mirrors the work of professional historians. The project became more accessible for student researchers by using the Virtual War Memorial of Australia. Students were also assisted by the meticulous research of alumnus Ken Stevenson, who spent over 3,000 hours gathering records to verify and add names to the Honour Board. With this research as their foundation, students were tasked with interpreting military service records, school archives, and war memorials, such as those on the Virtual War Memorial site. These sources provided the raw material for students to build detailed biographies, fostering not only research skills but also their ability to contextualize local history within broader world events.

This kind of project is not just about the outcome; it’s about engaging students in the process of authentic historical inquiry. Students must learn to navigate complex records, uncovering stories from sometimes fragmented sources. They develop essential skills in planning, structuring, and revising their work, culminating in a polished biography that meets rigorous academic standards. Teachers review each draft, providing guidance and feedback, ensuring the biographies are accurate, respectful, and of high quality.

By involving students in this process of research, analysis, writing, and revision, they learn that history is not just about dates and events but about personal stories that shape our collective memory and create our historical consciousness. Another significant advantage of this project is its ability to bridge the gap between global events and local history. The original Honour Board and its recent update, which added 71 new names thanks to Ken Stevenson’s research, stand as permanent reminders of Sydney Technical High School’s connection to the world wars. For schools with Honour Boards, a project like this allows students to see how world events, such as World War I, affected individuals within their own community. This personal connection deepens their understanding of the war’s impact, making history feel more tangible and relevant.

The success of the World War I Biography Project is evident in the outcomes. This year alone, students completed 150 biographies (over 100,000 words written), all of which are now permanently housed on the Virtual War Memorial Australia. These biographies serve as lasting tributes to the veterans and as testaments to the students’ dedication to preserving historical memory. The project has grown from a simple class assignment into a meaningful contribution to both the school’s archives and Australia’s wartime legacy. All students are proud to be published historians, and for educators looking to implement meaningful, rigorous, and AI-proof projects in their classrooms, this World War I Biography Project is a fantastic example of real-world learning. By presenting their work to a public audience via the Virtual War Memorial, students are motivated not just by grades but by the opportunity to write real history and contribute to the memory of those who served.

This project equips students with valuable research and writing skills while also connecting them to their school’s history in a personal and lasting way. By allowing students to engage deeply with historical inquiry, the project fosters a sense of pride, service, and connection to the past—qualities that transcend the classroom and shape lifelong learners.

Schools without Honour Boards

If teachers wanted to complete this project but did not have access to a school Honour Board, they could still engage their students in a rich, meaningful historical inquiry by utilizing the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour and the Virtual War Memorial Australia community page. With over 97,000 names of Australian soldiers who died in conflict, including more than 60,000 from World War I, there is an abundance of untapped research material ready for student use. Many of these soldiers have little or nothing written about their personal stories, providing a unique opportunity for students to develop original biographies based on primary sources. Students can begin with the AIF Project records, which provide a concise summary of each soldier’s service, offering a solid foundation for their research. From there, they can delve deeper into the National Australian Archives, which house soldier Attestation Papers and Service Records, revealing more detailed information such as where the soldiers fought, their roles, and their casualty records.

Additionally, the Australian War Memorial offers valuable resources that shed light on the broader context of World War I, including detailed information about the nature of war and the key battles in which Australians fought. The Virtual War Memorial Australia further enriches the research process by providing Battalion histories and links to Battalion records and diaries, which document daily events and field operations. These records give students an intimate look into the conditions, challenges, and experiences of Australian soldiers on the battlefield, allowing for a more nuanced and comprehensive biographical project.

Students can also use AncestryClassroom to gain a deeper understanding of the lives of soldiers before they went to war. This powerful resource provides educators with free access to historical record collections, as well as classroom resources and professional learning tools, which can help students create a fuller picture of the individual soldier's personal history. By exploring census records, family trees, and other personal documents, students can uncover details about the soldiers' early lives—such as their family background, education, occupation, and place of residence.

This approach not only helps students develop a connection with Australia’s military history but also fosters skills in historical inquiry, research, and empathy by bringing to life the stories of soldiers who have long remained anonymous in historical records.

© Robert Devlin, Head Teacher History and the Library, Sydney Technical High School

View the Sydney Technical High School WW1 Roll Of Honour here.

School Honour Boards are a great prompt to get your students involved in learning about history. 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and also marks 110 years since the landing of the AIF at ANZAC Cove and Australia’s official participation in WW1. This is a perfect time for schools to look at ways to honour their veterans. If your school is interested in being involved in an Honour Board project, please contact us.

We ask South Australian schools to contact our Schools Program Manager, Kate Johnson, at [email protected] or 0419 620 297. If your school is outside South Australia, please instead contact us directly at [email protected].