Our World War II spy reveals her espionage experience

FOR three decades, Marian Kaufman was sworn to silence about her experiences as a WWII spy.

Marian Kaufman worked as a spy for the Australian Army and used this morse code machine i

FOR thirty years, Marian Kaufman was sworn to silence about her wartime experiences.

But having been an intercepting spy on the Japanese in World War II, the Bellarine Peninsula woman was well versed in keeping secrets.

A quiet, softly-spoken 89-year-old, Marian was only interested in Morse code when she volunteered for the war in 1942.

Still in her teens, Marian wanted more than a mundane job and was granted the chance after sitting an exam to test her skills.

“You have a special and important role with us,” Marian was told. “You will be sent to Bonegilla for training.”

The young Bright girl, from northeast Victoria, was now part of the Australian Special Wireless Group (ASWG).

She would be trained to intercept Japanese messages through their receiving sets, learning Morse code and the equivalent in the Japanese language system, Kana.

After three months she was sent to Kalinga in Brisbane, the Headquarters of Special Wireless and became a member of this top secret intelligence unit.

“There was great camaraderie,” Marian said, “a feeling of pride that what we were doing was really making a difference in the war.”

She said they all used to write to, and receive letters from, “our boys” in New Guinea and Darwin.

“My experiences were very special to me. We were like one big family. The men were like brothers,” she said.

Marian logged messages of the Japanese army, navy, and air force in Kana, quickly passing them on to Central Bureau for deciphering.

For many years, Marian’s wartime experiences could not even be acknowledged, with intelligence officers committed to 30 years of secrecy after the war.

But these services were eventually recognised, with Britain’s prime minister Gordon Brown sending a medal and certificate to all surviving members of the ASWG in 2009.

Marian is still somewhat guarded about her role in WWII.

Former spy Marian Kaufman now lives on the Bellarine Peninsula in retirement. PIC: Mitch Bear

“Everyone has a story to tell,” she said.

“I appreciate my life but understand that others also have interesting lives. I like talking to people because I love to hear their stories.”

After being discharged from the Army in 1946, Marian married Norm Kaufman and settled in Melbourne, raising three sons.

She worked in a nursery and made good use of the Latin names of plants that her father had taught her.

In retirement, Marian and Norm enjoyed more extended country trips for months as well as short visits around Victoria. While visiting friends on the Bellarine Peninsula, Marian and Norm were captivated by the natural beauty of the area: clean air, the wildlife and the plants.

They returned to Melbourne and sold their house, moved to the Bellarine Peninsula and into a friendly community.

Marian and Norm became involved in local activities and founding members of Friends of Edwards Point. She belongs to the local garden club and enjoys working in her own garden, among her plants and propagating many for friends and her constant visitors.

Marian still has a razor sharp mind and memory to match. She attends classes at U3A and writes poetry and short stories. She can still write Morse code but cannot remember Kana.

Her sense of adventure has also not diminished; when asked what she would like to do for her 90th birthday later this year, she doesn’t hesitate: “I want to ride in a hot-air balloon.”