The official online release of more than 10,000 wartime papers has revealed the thoughts and strategies of one of Australia's most famous World War I generals.

The letters, maps and personal correspondence document Sir John Monash's experiences as one of Australia's top commanders during the 1914-18 conflict.

The digitisation of his papers is part of the Australian War Memorial's Anzac Connections project to mark the centenary of the conflict.

"We want them to be as if you came here, but even better, because you can enlarge them, you can skip through them, you can move around, and they are in full colour and very easy to navigate," says Robyn van Dyk, head of the AWM's research centre.

Sorry, this video has expired Huge WWI archive of Sir John Monash letters released online

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has paid tribute to Monash and the efforts of War Memorial historians.

"Sir John Monash was a true Australian hero and I applaud the Australian War Memorial on this Anzac Connections project," he said.

"Fortunately for us John Monash was as meticulous in recording his thoughts as he was in planning his military operations. His papers, his letters, his diaries all give us so much insight into the man, a man who changed the course of history."

Mr Abbott said despite his humble roots, Monash became one of the greatest generals in Australian military history.

"He was a citizen soldier, who along with so many other Australians answered the call of King and Country in the 1914-18 war. He was one of the best generals of that war."

Pioneering general who put Australia's military on the map

Monash was born in west Melbourne to Jewish-Prussian parents on June 27, 1865.

When WWI broke out he was appointed as the commander of the Australian Imperial Force's 4th Brigade in Egypt, and led them at Gallipoli.

Monash became a major general in July 1916 and took command of the 3rd Division. The division's first major battle, Messines (June 1917), was hailed a great success.

By May 1918 he was Corps Commander of the Australian Armed Forces in France, where he distinguished himself as a tactician in the fierce fighting which marked the final months of the war on the Western Front.

"Monash is interesting because through his command in 1918 he put Australia on the map," Ms van Dyk said.

"Anyone searching First World War military history would be interested in this collection on the international scale. But especially for Australians, he's one of our most important commanders. The work he did throughout the First World War is such an interesting study of a commander and leadership, and his development from Gallipoli right through to organising the demobilisation for the AIF at the end of the war."

The archive has been split into two parts. The first includes typed transcripts of Monash's letters to his wife, and the second covers war papers such as maps, speeches, and plans for operations.

Changing face of war: a complex mind for complex tactics

The documents give both a personal and a professional sense of the man, and an idea about the changing face of war during the conflict.

By 1918, Ms van Dyk says, the days when soldiers were sent into action "running against machine guns" were "long gone".

Quick Facts John Monash was born in Melbourne June 27, 1865 to Jewish-Prussian parents

John Monash was born in Melbourne June 27, 1865 to Jewish-Prussian parents He was dux of Scotch College and studied arts and engineering at Melbourne University

He was dux of Scotch College and studied arts and engineering at Melbourne University In 1884 he joined the university company of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles

In 1884 he joined the university company of the 4th Battalion, Victorian Rifles Worked on construction of the Princes Bridge in Melbourne in 1888

Worked on construction of the Princes Bridge in Melbourne in 1888 Married Hannah Moss in April 1891

Married Hannah Moss in April 1891 In 1908 he was appointed commander of the Victorian wing of the Australian Intelligence Corps

In 1908 he was appointed commander of the Victorian wing of the Australian Intelligence Corps Took command of the AIF's 4th Infantry Brigade, landing at Gallipoli on April 26, 1915

Took command of the AIF's 4th Infantry Brigade, landing at Gallipoli on April 26, 1915 Became a major general in July 1916 and took command of the 3rd Division. First major battle at Messines hailed a great success

Became a major general in July 1916 and took command of the 3rd Division. First major battle at Messines hailed a great success By May 1918 he was corps commander of the Australian Armed Forces in France

By May 1918 he was corps commander of the Australian Armed Forces in France His first battle as corps commander, at Hamel in France July 4, 1918 was considered a great success

His first battle as corps commander, at Hamel in France July 4, 1918 was considered a great success Knighted for his services in 1918

Knighted for his services in 1918 Became a leading figure in Melbourne's Jewish community and advocate for returned servicemen

Became a leading figure in Melbourne's Jewish community and advocate for returned servicemen Died in Melbourne on October 8, 1931 and was given a state funeral attended by 250,000 mourners

By the end of the war commanders on both sides were adopting tactical doctrines which integrated infantry, armoured vehicles, aircraft and artillery in an attempt to break the stalemate.

"Now it's a heavily industrialised war," Ms van Dyk said.

"Both sides are pumping out artillery and have got their factories going, and it's how you use tanks, aircraft, artillery."

Monash's first battle as a Lieutenant General in command of an entire corps was at Hamel in July 1918.

The plan to capture the town was based around an infantry assault with tank and artillery support. Planes were used to drop ammunition to troops - a first on the Western Front - as well as for bombing raids. American troops took part in the battle, their first offensive operations since landing in France.

The operation was hailed a success, with the town captured within two hours. Monash wrote that: "A perfect modern battle plan is like nothing so much as a score for an orchestral composition, where the various arms and units are the instruments, and the tasks they perform are their respective musical phrases".

One of his maps bears a handwritten note which reads: "Flares hard to get ... Some tanks are at their objective ... Could see our troops digging in front of Accroche Wood."

"He's the right person for the job because war by 1918 is precise, industrial; it’s not the war of the Gallipoli landing at all. It's much more sophisticated and it requires a mind like Monash's to succeed," said Ms van Dyk.

"He was a meticulous planner and you can see that in his collections. His record keeping and documentation and the things he takes note of are visible through his collection."

Contemplated own death on eve of Gallipoli landing

A highlight of the collection is Monash's letter to his wife, which he wrote on the eve of the Gallipoli landing in case he did not survive.

"In the event of my going out, you are to believe that I do so with only one regret, which is, the grief that this will bring to you and Bert [daughter Bertha] and Mat," he writes.

"For myself, I am prepared to take my chance. To win through safely would mean honour and achievement, on the other hand to fall would mean an honourable end.

"At best I have only a few years of vigour left, and then would come decay and the chill of old age, and perhaps lingering illness."

Ms van Dyk says Monash was keenly aware of the importance of Australia's participation in the war. In the lead-up to the Gallipoli landing he wrote: "We got the first order issued today by General Sir ISM Hamilton ... This is indeed a historic document, but its contents are too confidential to send along a copy.

"What a wonderful compliment to Australia and New Zealand to be included in this great expedition, which I feel pretty sure will exercise a decisive influence upon the whole war."