The internment of more than 15,000 civilians in Australia during the Second World War is still a little-known episode in Australian history.

A new book released by the National Archives of Australia, In the Interest of National Security by historian Professor Klaus Neumann, examines the reasons for this and illuminates this significant part of our past. Professor Neumann’s book also underlines how crucial the Archives’ collections are to a comprehensive reading of Australian history.

‘This book sheds light on a compelling Australian story of the Second World War with the help of the Archives’ extensive collection’, said Mr Ross Gibbs, Director-General of the National Archives.

‘In the Interest of National Security contains new research that underlines the importance of the Archives’ role as the keeper of our national memory.’

The book tells the stories of 10 individuals who were considered a ‘security risk’ and interned in camps during the war. It details the impact this traumatic event had on their lives, sometimes for many years later. They were fascists and antifascists, Nazi supporters and Nazi resisters, and some with no political allegiances at all.

Harley Matthews was one of the first Australian soldiers to land at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. A war hero, he returned to Australia and later published poems and stories about his war experiences. But considered a ‘security risk’ because of his suspected involvement with the Australia First Movement, he was arrested in 1942 and interned.

Author Klaus Neumann follows Matthews’ story from beginning to end and reveals that, following a royal commission in 1945, Matthews was fully exonerated. But the damage had already been done –Matthews’ mother had died a short time after his arrest and Matthews maintained that his unjust internment was to blame.

In the Interest of National Security will be launched by Mr Sam Lipski at the Victorian Archives Centre, 99 Shiel Street, North Melbourne on Thursday 1 February, 2007 at 5 pm.