Suitcase Wireless Set 'A' Mark 1* : Special Operations Executive, Europe

Suitcase Wireless Set 'A' Mark 1* complete with headset, microphone, small box of ten spare fuses, spare mains power plug with twin round pins, a small screw wrapped in part of a page of a message sheet. The suitcase is a scuffed brick-red colour with a single leather hinge. It is closed at the front with three metal lock fittings. All three locks are rusted and the body of the centre lock is missing. What appears to be '5P' is written in pencil at one end. The case has a dark-brown leather handle with a red, white, blue and gold P&O label attached to it by a cotton thread. Written on the label is the passenger's name which is illegible; ship name 'STRATHMORE' and cabin number which appears to be 'H223'. The corners of the case are reinforced with leather caps. The inside of the lid is reinforced with a thin sheet of timber and has a pair of straps attached for support when opened. The inner body of the case is in two segments with the larger compartment housing the wireless itself. The wireless is comprised of four components - receiver; sender complete with a US Army Signal Corps Crystal Unit; mains power unit to which is hard-wired a power cord with Australian plug; battery power unit which has a miniature morse key fitted to the panel and to which is hard-wired the battery cable with brass spring-loaded clips. All four components have the serial number 3414. The headset with cord and jack, No.3 hand microphone with cord and jack, spare mains plug, small screw wrapped in message sheet, box of spare fuses and handbook are located in the smaller segment. On the inside of the smaller compartment, a piece of string, about 150 mm in length has been tied between to two screws secured to the frame.

The Suitcase Wireless Set 'A' Mk 1 is one of the first wireless sets disguised via suitcase to be produced by the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. It was introduced in late 1941 - early 1942 and it's primary use was by clandestine agents working in enemy occupied territory. The design and construction of the transmitter and receiver is based on the British Army Wireless Set No. 18 Mk III which was, at that time, in full production and using readily-available components.

This set was acquired by Squadron Leader (later Air Commodore) George Emile Prosser during a posting to London, UK between 1946 and 1950. During that time he attended a course on signals in combined operations. He returned to Australia aboard the Strathmore, bringing the radio with him.

Born in Melbourne in 1917, Prosser joined the RAAF in 1938. He had already attended a course in 'Radio Physics' run by Amalgamated Wireless Australia in Sydney and was fluent in German. In the RAAF he was assigned to the Technical Branch, as a signals and electrical officer. He also qualified as a Wireless/Telegraphist. Between October 1941 and September 1943 Prosser flew with 10 Squadron, RAAF, part of the UK's Coastal Command. In November 1943 he was assigned the task of visiting Fighter and Bomber Command units to assess and report on their radio organisation and counter-measure organisation. Apart from his post-war service in Britain Prosser also served in Malaya in the 1950s. His final posting before his retirement in 1975 was to RAAF Wagga as station commandant.