The National Archives of Australia and Ancestry.com have digitised 95,000 First World War records, preserving them for the future.

The war records – series MT1486/1 – consist of records for men who applied to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), and were rejected, discharged while still in training, or only served in Australia.

“These records help to throw light on a significant cohort of people who attempted to enlist but were rejected,” senior curator Anne-Marie Condé said. “This part of the First World War story has so often been overlooked.

“The most common reason for rejection was on medical grounds, but there were all kinds of reasons a person could be rejected, and together they offer compelling insights into the beliefs and world-views of the day.”

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Series MT1486/1 is a high-use series, and joins more than 376,000 First Australian Imperial Force service records that have already been fully digitised.

The Ancestry.com team worked with National Archives staff at their repository in East Burwood, Victoria.

Rebecca Britt, the National Archives’ director of digitisation services, said the partnership ensured records were digitised to a world-class standard.

The records never left the repository, ensuring security and best practice for the project, Ms Britt said.

Jason Reeve, Ancestry.com’s head of content and community, said the project ensured future generations could access this important collection.

“Ancestry is honoured to partner with National Archives of Australia to digitise this significant collection,” he said. “By ensuring that these important stories are accessible and digitally preserved for generations to come, we can contribute to the commemoration and safeguarding of this crucial chapter of Australia’s military history.”

The public can access all records via RecordSearch and through the Ancestry.com family history platform.