Lt-Gen John Coates displays The Atlas of Australia's Wars, which he wrote, at its launch in Canberra by CA Lt-Gen Peter Cosgrove. Photo by Pte Belina Mepham.

An Atlas of Australia's Wars is a "cap stone" to Australia's military history, according to CA Lt-Gen Peter Cosgrove.

Written by former CGS Lt-Gen John Coates, the atlas was launched by Lt-Gen Cosgrove at the Australian War Memorial recently.

The A-3 sized atlas completes the seven-volume Australian Centenary History of Defence series, of which Lt-Gen Coates was the co-editor.

More than 200 photographs and paintings provide readers with links between the operations and campaigns described in the text and their maps.

Lt-Gen Coates, a Visiting Fellow at ADFA, said that what he had wanted to do was to both memorialise and enshrine what Australia's armed forces had achieved over two centuries.

"I would like this to be a reinforcement to Australia's soldiers of their professionalism," he said.

Lt-Gen Cosgrove said the atlas was an ideal training tool for soldiers.

"The way to have those folks as good as they can be is to expose them to the deeds, events and history of the defence force in this time, serving this country," he said.

"I'm thrilled that the book will assist in their professional development in presenting accurately and clearly those great feats that are upon what our service traditions have been founded - our military forebears deserve nothing less.

By Pte Belinda Mepham