| Accession Number | P09012.003 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Wagga Wagga |
| Date made | 2 January 1943 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Informal outdoor portrait of NF410507 Signaller Ruth Gloria Tobin, Australian Special Wireless ...
Description
Informal outdoor portrait of NF410507 Signaller Ruth Gloria Tobin, Australian Special Wireless Group, Australian Womens Army Service, whilst serving at Bonegilla Camp, Victoria. Ruth Tobin had been the girlfriend of 23289 Stoker Francis Bernard Keenan who was killed in action, aged 25, when HMAS Sydney II was sunk in the Indian Ocean by the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran on 20 November 1941. Following the sinking of the Sydney Ruth Tobin enlisted in the Australian Special Wireless Group where she worked as an enemy intercept 'kana' operator, trained to intercept and transcribe the katakana, the Japanese writing system used for morse code.