READY RESPONSE

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 26, 30 July 1940, Page 4

READY RESPONSE

I BINOCULARS FOR A.I.F.

OTHER EQUIPMENT ALSO

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 26. The Federal Government has appealed to the Australian people to give prismatic binoculars to the Army and in a little more than two weeks, 1300 pairs have been received. Army headquarters and the Supply Department tried unsuccessfully to obtain quotations for the commercial supply of suitable binoculars in the large quantities required by the A.I.F. An interesting contribution was that of two 74-year-old twin spinsters, who made the pathetic sacrifice of a valuable pair of binoculars, believed to be more than 100 years old. The binoculars belonged to their father, who, as a sergeant in the Sutherland Highlanders, won the Victoria Cross for discovering the breach in the fort at Lucknow during the Indian Mutiny in 1857 and was also awarded medals for valour in the earlier Crimean "War. Their father later settled in Australia and became governor of a New South Wales gaol. The spinsters have lived in the same house in a Sydney suburb for 44 years, where the binoculars and their father's war medals have been their most treasured possessions. "We don't like war," the spinsters told Army officers. "We've heard too much about it from father. But we hope to live long enough to see peace again. Father used the binoculars during the Indian Mutiny." Sydney pawnbrokers are also helping with the binoculars appeal. Every pawnbroker in the metropolitan area has been asked by his association to give at least two pairs of binoculars. Pawnbrokers who cannot give binoculars are giving cash. The binoculars given by the public range in value from ~12 to £50. including some magnificent pairs from members of the Australian Jockey Club and. other racing men. Many prismatic compasses, a theodolite, a German periscope valued at £80, and other useful optical equipment have also been given. I