Espionage in World War II
Before and during WWII, every thinking adult worried about espionage. Was that reclusive man down the street a spy? What about the fisherman who spent his days down at the docks? Was he fishing or was he really taking soundings and relaying information about the harbor to our enemies?
Spying was on everyone’s minds and governments, both Axis and Allied, used movie makers, print media, and the radio to convey warnings about the need for vigilance. If you click on this link, https://aso.gov.au/titles/newsreels/australia-today-australias-5th/clip1/ (accessed 11/7/2020) you can watch and hear an brief but fascinating newsreel entitled “Australia Today – Australia’s 5th Column,” made in 1941.
Ila and a Spy
Florence Armsbury, Ila’s mother, continually asked Ila to have a nice photograph taken to send back home. So, after arriving at Camp Cable, about 30 miles southwest of Brisbane, on one of her days off, Ila went into town and sat for a professional photographer. He told her the prints would be ready in a week or so. And a few days later, she returned and picked up the first small batch to send to her mother.
But Florence wanted more photos to mail to other family members, so Ila returned and placed a second order. But every time she went back to retrieve the order, the shop was closed. Over time Ila became suspicious.
Then one day, in mid-January 1944, when he had leave, E.B. (Ila’s boyfriend and a doctor, captain in the U. S. Army) volunteered to drop by the photographer’s shop and pick up Ila’s order. Here’s what Ila had to say in a letter dated January 13, 1944:
You know I told you I had tried to get more pictures and didn’t get an answer? Well, E.B. was going on down there on business so I asked him to see about them.
And then I said, “I’ll bet he’s not there any longer. You know, I always did feel uncomfortable around there, and was afraid to say a thing because I thought he was a spy.”
And E.B. said he thought that was the funniest thing he’d ever heard — a spy! Just as if you and I and anyone else couldn’t get mixed u p with a spy.
Well, anyway E. B. is there, and he’s called me several times and the last time he called he said, “Do you know what?”
Then he told me that he had gone to see about my pictures and that the place was locked up. He found the manager of the building who said that the proprietor just disappeared during the night and no one has heard from him! They think he’s a spy.
So those few pictures I sent the first time are the only ones we’ll ever have. At first, the thought of having a spy take my photograph, paying him for them and talking decently to him infuriated me so that I swore I’d tear up every one of those when I got home. But I guess that would be silly! It makes my blood boil!
To learn more about Australia’s concerns regarding espionage during WWII, check out this website: https://www.naa.gov.au/explore-collection/intelligence-and-security/history-australian-intelligence-and-security/australia-first-movement
Tomorrow: The USO visits Camp Cable
