Argus A3 anastigmatic camera and case : Wireman Edwin Fagan, RAN

Argus A3 35mm camera with a pop out 50mm f4 anastigmat lens. The top of the camera has a hot shoe adaptor and on the back is an f stop calculator consisting of a series of rotating discs. The modular leather case is lined with purple velveteen and is secured with two metal press studs. The case has a short leather carry strap with a metal buckle. There is also a spare leather strap for the case.

Associated with the service of 24998 Edwin Fagan, born 30 August 1920 in Leichardt, New South Wales. Fagan served as a wireman in the Royal Australian Navy from 1941 to 1946. He trained at HMAS Cerberus and was involved in electrical maintenance and laying mines across the mouth of the Hawkesbury River, Newcastle Harbour and also in Townsville, Cairns and Papua New Guinea. Fagan was in Australia when peace was declared and was then engaged in removing the boom net from Sydney Harbour. In December 1945 Fagan was posted to Japan and was later discharged from the Navy on 4 March 1946. He purchased this camera when he enlisted in the Navy and used it to take a number of photographs documenting his mine laying and electrical work in the harbours, and also his time in Hiroshima a few months after the dropping of the atomic bomb.