Territory lawyer finds Japanese WWII spy file
A NORTHERN Territory lawyer has tracked down a rare Japanese military spy file with precise information on Australian infrastructure, wildlife, soldiers, industry and towns – including Darwin.
The “top secret” file provides a chilling insight into enemy intelligence operations during World War II.
It contains detailed maps, more than 50 aerial photos the Australian air force took of Mornington Peninsula, Victoria in 1937, and a photograph of a smiling woman patting a large “kangaroo” on the nose.
Darwin barrister Mark Thomas got his hands on the file at a Melbourne bookshop.
“It’s amazingly thorough and precise,” he said.
“There is a sinister aspect of what the file was used for but it’s a great insight into Australia back then.”
The file was published in 1942, the year WWII came to Australian shores.
Darwin was bombed in an attack that killed 235 people, sunk 11 ships and destroyed 30 aircraft on February 19.
The bombs continued to fall as far south as Katherine and throughout the Top End for two years.
Places including “Alis Spring (sic)”, Tennant Creek and Bathurst Island were documented.
The intelligence also focused on the “Port Darwin”, southwest coast, aerodrome and “Lake Lagoon”.
Mr Thomas said he had contacted the NT Library and Darwin Military Museum about the file.
“It’s going to stay in Darwin and it will not gather dust in my attic – if I had one,” he said. “I would like to display it.” The file documents Australia state by state, focusing on certain rural areas, and even has a map of the tramway in Auckland, New Zealand.
It has detailed photos of BHP Steel operations, “Australian soldiers on expedition” and a governor-general under a Union Jack flag “reviewing Australian artillery”.
In February, Darwin remembered the 75th anniversary of the bombings by holding a memorial service, which was attended by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and dignitaries from Japan and the US. Veterans received a standing ovation when they placed wreaths remembering their fallen mates.
Although it has been accepted by most military academics an imminent invasion of Australia was not probable, or officially planned by the Japanese, at the time there was a very real belief within Australia that this was possible.
Spy files such as those recovered by Mr Thomas would have only fuelled the fires of suspicious Australians during the war and provide a historic snapshot of the times.