Hehir, John Leslie (Captain, Australian Intelligence Corps AIF, b.1906 - d.1987)

Collection relating to Captain John L Hehir, Australian Intelligence Corps, AIF during the Second World War. Captain John L Hehir was in charge of the investigation into HMAS Sydney's loss when the HSK Kormoran prisoners were transferred to Murchison POW camp.

Collection consists of 4 folders.

Folder 1 - General papers: Notes on Black Dragon society (typed plus copy); article 'Along the Axis' - impressions of Italy and Germany, 29 September 1939; series of photographs of German concealed weapons; various lecture notes given to the Victorian Special Branch, 1941-43; report 'Inquiry into matters relating to the detention of certain members of the 'Australia First Movement' group, 1945.

Folder 2 - Kormoran papers: original file cover for Hehir's investigation into the HMAS Sydney; translation of diary of auxiliary merchant cruiser 'Kormoran' written by Lieutenant Commander Bretscneider, Dhurringile PW Camp; typed letter dated 31 December 1941; censored extracts from letters written home by survivors of the 'Kormoran'; handwritten letter from one of the 'Kormoran's' crew showing a map of the ships course from when it left Germany until when it was sunk of the West Australian coast (includes diagram of a camp on the other side); report on an eavesesdropping activity, Murchison POW Camp, 1 January 1942; report - 'German raider 'Kormoran''; handwritten memo re the interrogation of Commander Detmer; letter re the survivors of the 'Mareeba' (said to be 'Spreewald') lost in January 1942; report - German Raider HSK 'Kormoran' - General investigation - Dossier of Information obtained, 20 December 1941 - 16 January 1942 (incomplete); translation of poems written by survivors of 'Kormoran'; envelope and collection of sketches by Dr List, shorthand symbols and their interpretation, prepared by Mrs Hermine Kevin, January 1942 in relation to the examination of Dr List's sketches; photocopy of Commander Detmer's coded notebook; photocopy of pages of Hehir's diary from January 1942.

Folder 3 - Italian papers: report on the development of the Victorian Fascio and its subsequent history, written by J L Hehir, 1940; copy of a letter written by Mussolini (incomplete, 2 pages only); photographic extract from the log of the Italian motor ship 'Romolo' and a typed translation.

Folder 4 - supplementary report - Notes and translations on Italian affairs, written W J McDonnell.