Colt Super Automatic Pistol : Miss Pat Jarret

Colt 'Super' .38 semi automatic pistol. The left side top frame is stamped with the the manufacturers name, address and patent dates. On the right is COLT SUPER .38 AUTOMATIC and the prancing horse trade mark. The grips are brown checkered wood.

This Colt pistol was owned by Miss Pat Jarret, who was employed as a journalist during the Second World War. She served on the staff of Richard G Casey (later Lord Casey) who was in the process of setting up Australia's first diplomatic mission in Washington DC. Miss Jarret was heavily involved in the transfer of top secret documents on diplomatic courier runs during WWII and was also commissioned to write news articles that would encourage women to join the ranks of the services. The Colt pistol was issued to her with 100 rounds of ammunition as self protection when she was involved in the numerous voyages with diplomatic pouches across the Pacific Ocean and other potentially hazardous journeys.