Geelong Soldiers of the Great War
Honouring Service and Sacrifice: The World War I Collection (1914–1919)
This eleven volume collection brings together the extensive historical work of researcher and author Rob Wight, chronicling the lives, service, and sacrifices of servicemen and community members during the First World War. Across multiple volumes, including focused studies on local school honor rolls, community memorial windows, sports clubs, and district avenues of honour, this ongoing project preserves the human stories behind the names etched into regional World War I memorials.
Drawing extensively from primary service records at the National Archives of Australia, digital archives at the Australian War Memorial, and local historical records, the collection documents the diverse military journeys of Australians serving across every major theater of war. From the beaches of Gallipoli and the mud of the Western Front to the arid battlefields of Sinai and Palestine, each biography detail enlistments, personal backgrounds, combat service, and ultimate fates, placing individual lives within the broader tapestry of wartime history.
Acknowledging Rob Wight’s Contribution
We extend our sincere gratitude to Rob Wight for his dedication, meticulous research, and deep passion for military and regional history. Through countless hours of labour, cross-referencing war graves, reconstructing individual service records, and cataloging local memorials, Rob has ensured that these local legacies are neither lost nor forgotten.
Beyond the work of researching and writing these volumes, Rob has generously made his biographical collections available for public distribution and access through our website and other local historical societies, public archives, and community organisations. His generosity ensures that these vital historical records remain open to families, local researchers, and future generations seeking to understand their community’s service and sacrifice.
Lest We Forget.
Explore the documents of the soldiers listed on the eleven Honor Boards.
Click the link and the document will open in a new tab.
- Barwon Rowing Club Soldiers.pdf
- Fisherman’s Flat (Queenscliff) Soldiers.pdf
- Geelong High School Honor Roll.pdf
- Moolap Boys to the Front.pdf
- Pt Lonsdale State School.pdf
- Queenscliff Fire Brigade.pdf
- Queenscliff Church of St George Soldiers.pdf
- Queenscliff Memorial Garden Soldiers.pdf
- Queenscliff Methodist Soldiers.pdf
- St Leonards Soldiers.pdf
- St Marks on the Hill Leopold.pdf
You can search these documents by using the Geelong Soldiers Assistant.
You can click the link just below or click the icon on the bottom right of the page.
Both open the Search Assistant. Just ask plain English queries and it will answer by using only the contents of Rob Wight’s books.
Our Search Assistant isn’t just a simple search, it’s equipped with the complete records of the Rob Wight Collection. While you can search for individual family members, the assistant truly excels when you ask it to make connections, build timelines, and pull together stories across our entire archive. It will not go beyond them in a search for answers. If the information is not there, it will tell you.
Here are a few ways to unlock the full depth of the collection:
Explore Local Honor Rolls & Schools
“Tell me about the men listed on the Moolap Honor Roll.”
“Who from the Barwon Rowing Club served in the Great War?”
Reconstruct Specific Battles & Timelines
“What local soldiers were involved in the action near Gueudecourt in February 1917?”
“Which Geelong men served in the 57th Infantry Battalion during 1918?”
Uncover Local Connections & Memorials
“Which soldiers from St Albans and Moolap were killed in action?”
“Are there records for soldiers connected to local state schools in the district?”
Follow the Prompts
Every answer ends with “Continue Your Research” prompts. Type these suggested questions to dive deeper into individual service histories, unit movements, and local honor roll records.
Tip for best results: You don’t need exact dates or service numbers, just type a surname, a school, or a battle site to start exploring.
