Street portrait taken outside the Trocadero Dance Hall, Sydney on 9 July 1940 of Patricia Cole ...

Street portrait taken outside the Trocadero Dance Hall, Sydney on 9 July 1940 of Patricia Cole (aged 16) and her boyfriend NX16980 Bombadier Joseph Sydney (Joe) Crogan, aged 22, at the 2/6 Field Regiment's Farewell Ball, on the night before his departure for active service in the Middle East. Patricia and Joe had met through one of Patricia's brothers, Ross, James, Robert and John Cole, all of whom saw active service. Patricia never saw Joe again. During his service he was fatally wounded and died on 24 June 1941. On the night of the Ball, Crogan souvenired a union jack flag from the Trocadero which was decorated with a large selection of world flags, and signed it, along with a number of his mates. After he died, Patricia's four brothers, when on leave, would bring their mates home for dinner, and Patricia would bring the flag out for them to sign. Cole later married NX21222 Lance Bombadier Donald William Raynor, 2/5 Field Regiment, whom she also met through her brothers and who coincidentally enlisted on 24 May 1940, the same day as Joe Crogan. The flag is held at the Australian War Memorial at REL44433.