It’s a story that has remained in the shadows for decades, a chessboard of espionage, counter-espionage, and intelligence networks quietly operating across Australia between 1940 and 1950. Many key players were never household names, but their work shaped the nation’s early intelligence operations. Today, we pull back the curtain on one of the people—some survived, others did not but very few of their stories were told.
The image below is of an NAA document, I found it and others by accident, it was in amongst a set of de-classified documents.
Intelligence work wasn’t just the domain of high-ranking officers or seasoned spies. A recently examined document—which I have redacted —sheds light on the remarkable reality of clandestine operations during and after World War II. The individuals entrusted with these perilous missions were not elite operatives but everyday soldiers drawn from different regiments.
One such recruit was a corporal from a Signals unit, handpicked for infiltration work. You would have to think that his signals experience would have been one of the major factors in his recruitment.
Another, detailed in a separate document, was a volunteer from the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). His file, like that of Private Judge in the Pakies accident, revealed he was placed on an X list, assigned to special duties, and ultimately responsible for gathering intelligence.
This second recruit, operating largely in South Australia in the 1940s, produced a series of intelligence reports—copies of which are in my possession.
These findings have direct implications for the Somerton Man case. The structure, selection, and training of these operatives align closely with the evidence suggesting that nurse Jestyn was recruited and specially trained for intelligence work requiring infiltration.
The evidence supports the view that the training was carried out by Lieutenant Alf Boxall of the Royal Australian Engineers, who I believe was seconded to Military Intelligence for exactly this kind of specialized training delivery.
These Military Intelligence documents—and others that include detailed intelligence information—will be published in my forthcoming book, offering a deeper look into Australia’s wartime intelligence apparatus and the courageous men and women who risked everything in the pursuit of vital information.
About this Blog and the Author:
Since 2009, I have been dedicated to researching the Somerton Man case, and in January 2013, I launched the first Australian blog solely devoted to uncovering the truth behind this enduring mystery. Over the past decade, this blog has delivered more than 1,000 posts, consistently presenting new discoveries, hard evidence, and well-documented research—a record unmatched by any other source. As the leading fact and evidence-based platform on the case, we have maintained an unbeaten record of uncovering new information, from forensic details to intelligence links. While some prefer speculation and personal attacks over substantiated findings, our focus remains on rigorous investigation, historical accuracy, and verifiable evidence. The case deserves nothing less.
Our Record: https://tamamshud.blogspot.com/p/somerton-man-case-tamamshud-blog-record.html
In this post, I’ve outlined how Australian military intelligence developed a structured approach to recruiting, training, and deploying field agents capable of infiltrating target organizations. Significantly, these men were recruited from within the ranks of Australian Army regiments/units. These operatives weren’t just observers; they were trained in tradecraft, adept at building their own legends, and skilled in intelligence reporting—critical components of effective clandestine operations.
ReplyDeleteA key element of their work was the creation of a ‘legend’ or cover story that effectively concealed their true identities. These cover stories were so complete that even those who served alongside them in their units had no idea who or what they really were.
For example, in one case, an agent who was a member of the CMF worked with the War Graves Commission, a role that required frequent field trips. However, those trips served as a cover for his infiltration activities. In another instance, a man believed to be an agent, also a CMF member, appeared to be a humble driver carrying mail—yet he became a key player in the Pakie Macdougall accident that took her life. A third case involved an agent who lived and worked undetected within a target community for years.
What stands out is that the service records of these individuals contained a subtle but significant clue: they were placed on an ‘X’ list and assigned to ‘Special Duties.’ This classification suggests a level of intelligence work that was not openly acknowledged, reinforcing the idea that Australian intelligence had a sophisticated and compartmentalized, infiltration network. The clue led to the uncovering of a number of intelligence reports that confirmed beyond any doubt that these med were field agents actively involved in counter espionage work
This post and comment marks the beginning of what will be ongoing research and investigation into the activities of Australian Intelligence agencies in the years leading up to the discovery of the body of a man on Somerton Beach on December 1st, 1948. The question remains—was this counter espionage structure still active at that time, and could there be connections between their operations and the Somerton Man case, one of Australia’s most enduring cold case mysteries?
Found this news clipping:
ReplyDeletehttps://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55773818
Spies in Aus from the beginning
Ok, so if these people were infiltrated it means that they were in amongst the groups or organisations for periods of time, if they followed the examples of the Europeans and MI6 agents etc they would have to make contact at scheduled times, Is it known how they communicated?
ReplyDeleteMeagen, good article, wonder who the Baroness was.. Thanks for the comment.
ReplyDeleteAnon. A very good question, radio perhaps or maybe dead drops? I would think that if they didn't have a transmitter they would certainly have a receiver, likely short wave.A pencil and paper with maybe a book to lean on? The 3rd agent was not infiltrating, he was possibly involved in a surveillance job.
ReplyDeleteShort wave receiver would be the go, numbers station broadcasting in batches to sets of agents. Found a YouTube video that was about MI6 numbers stations, they chat a bit but then there’s an example of an actual numbers broadcast in Australia.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/stVR6E-Tss8
Some good thoughts and research judging by the comments posted here and many more as yet unpublished, they are all valid but the issue here is more about the structure behind the intelligence gathering operation and not so much about the examples of German/ Nazi spies. So for those who have material and want to comment, can I ask that you focus on what is to be learned from the examples? A great example is the question about how would the MI agents communicate their information to their handlers. The two way communication could be achieved by the agent listening via short wave on a predetermined frequency for a ‘numbers station’ broadcast, they would hear their code name broadcast either as numbers or in Morse code. The message is written down as strings of letters/numbers and later decoded. Now the question is, what happens next?
ReplyDeleteNow we’re getting somewhere. The next logical step, as you rightly note, is writing it down, most likely in pencil. But let’s not stop at the obvious. That message wasn’t just written; it was encoded at the transmission end. If this was a Morse code transmission, then we’re talking about double encryption, one layer in Morse, another in cipher.
ReplyDeleteNow, consider the discipline required: 1. listen, 2. decode the Morse in real-time, then immediately decrypt the resulting string of letters or numbers—all done by hand, with nothing but a pencil and raw mental agility. No room for mistakes. And once you’ve absorbed the message, standard procedure: is eliminate the evidence. Burn it, but where do the ashes fall?
An ashtray, perhaps? Convenient, practical. And the Somerton Man had one. That could be pure coincidence of course but it is fact and you should not ignore facts.
17 MOMENTS OF SPRING. This link is to a 2021 post:
ReplyDeletehttps://tamamshud.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-somerton-man-17-moments-of-spring.html
It shows a Russian made video, and it deals with actual events from 1945. It shows a Soviet agent receiving a short radio message and the process he went through. Note the ashtray.
A good discussion guys keep it up!
David Morgan, I think you'll find the glass dish was referred to in the link : https://tamamshud.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-somerton-man-17-moments-of-spring.html
ReplyDeleteThere is no documentation or evidence regarding the dark specks found in the ashtray which apparently were never examined by Dr. Cowan or anyone else at the time. Any thoughts in that direction would be pure speculation.
Prior to that in 2010, 15 years ago, the matter of the suitcase and all of its contents was examined in depth by the Inner Sanctum group. It was the majority view that it was most likely litter as was the contents of the man's pockets. I can tell you that everyone involved were well experienced in examining the case, you of course are welcome to your own opinion.
That video link is a pearler. An absolute fit as an example of short wave being used and how the agent managed the process, almost exactly as described earlier. The layered codes then burning the evidence in an ashtray was all by the book. Didn't they have self-igniting paper in those days?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback, the video is in true Russian style, painfully slow in parts but if you watch the whole thing, it has some really interesting perspectives on the last months of WW2 plus of course some great tradecraft techniques! As for self-igniting paper, the short answer is yes it was first tried out in the late 1800s, but the agent concerned in the video wouldn't have used it, in the event of a search it would quickly implicate him as a spy. On the other hand, the Abwehr had infiltrators of their own so I suppose it was possible that they gave those agents such paper.
ReplyDelete