BRISBANE, QLD. C.1942-11. TWO MINE-WATCHERS IN UNIFORM, MEMBERS OF THE WOMENS NATIONAL EMERGENCY ...

BRISBANE, QLD. C.1942-11. TWO MINE-WATCHERS IN UNIFORM, MEMBERS OF THE WOMENS NATIONAL EMERGENCY LEGION (WNEL), AT AT THEIR POST ON THE BANK OF THE BRISBANE RIVER. MINE-WATCHERS, UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY, WERE WOMEN VOLUNTEERS WHO WORKED DURING THE DAY AND CARRIED OUT THEIR VOLUNTARY WORK AT NIGHT. MOST OF THE POSTS WERE IN PRIVATE BACKYARDS ALONG THE RIVER. NOTE THE MINE-WATCHER EMBLEM ON THE ARMBAND OF THE WOMAN IN THE POST. THIS WAS DARK NAVY BLUE WITH AN ANCHOR AND `MINEWATCHER' PRINTED IN RED. THE OTHER WOMAN WEARS THE WNEL UNIFORM WITH THE MINEWATCHER BADGE ON THE LAPEL OF HER COAT. NOTE ALSO THE BEARING-PLATE IN FRONT OF THE WOMAN IN THE POST. THIS WAS USED TO LOCATE THE POSITION OF SUSPECTED MINES. (DONOR J. SMITH)