| Accession Number | P02547.004 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Camp Pell |
| Date made | c 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Group portrait of members of a Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) signals training group. ...
Description
Group portrait of members of a Services Reconnaissance Department (SRD) signals training group. The group is comprised of a number of people, including NX143314 Sergeant (Sgt) Leonard George (Len) Siffleet, and perhaps the Ambonese who were with him when he was later captured. The training involved being aware of each other's technical idiosyncrasies when using morse code in case the cipher codes fell into enemy hands. A skilled user could discern a different user by their technique. Sgt Siffleet is in the back row, far left, and Richard (Dick) Bailey is probably in the back row, far right. On 24 October 1943, Sgt Siffleet, along with two Ambonese companions, was executed by order of Japanese Vice Admiral Kamada, in command of the Japanese fleet at Aitape, for his role as a wireless operator in a commando operation in Japanese occupied New Guinea. Sgt Siffleet was a member of the M Special Unit of the SRD.