Welcome to the world of Dr. Kathryn Spurling, an esteemed historian and writer with a remarkable focus on military biographies and the enduring impact of war.
Driven by her unwavering passion for history and her meticulous attention to detail, she has authored numerous books that delve into the lives of those who answered the call to fight, exploring their service, sacrifice, and the lasting effects on their families and future generations.
Dr. Spurling hails from a military background, with her father serving in WWII with Bomber Command in the RAAF. Following in her family’s footsteps, she joined the Women’s Royal Australian Navy (WRANS) after completing her studies, and later married the late Cmdr Nigel Spurling, a RAN engineering officer. Their elder son also followed in their footsteps by serving as a RAN engineering officer.
My Blog
Director WRANS, Captain Joan Streeter.
(25 April 1918–14 April 1993) Joan Streeter was born on 25 April 1918 in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn. She entered the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) as an Assistant Wran Writer WR625) on 25 January 1943. Following her training at HMAS Cerberus,...
The Mystery of AE1
Robyn Rosenstruss would visit her grandmother in Balmain, Sydney, where the elderly lady would gesture to the small timber chest of drawers which took pride of place in her home. ‘That’s Jimmy’s Box’ she would say. Robyn the child never knew who ‘Jimmy’ was – she...
Hilda Mary Knox
Oh, these poor men! It is simply heartbreaking. Sister Hilda Knox, June 1915. Hilda Mary Knox was born in the pretty Victorian town of Benalla on 29 December 1884. Positioned on the banks of the Broken River it was a pleasant environment in which to grow up. Her...
Inspiring Australian Women – Lauren Jackson
The achievements of Lauren Jackson are legendary and now recognized by her inclusion in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, only the second Australian, and first Australian woman to be so honoured. Basketball was pretty much Lauren’s life from when she...
A War Widow and Holbrook, NSW.
How many of us have driven to Melbourne passing through the town of Holbrook? And thought how odd it was to have a couple of submarines landlocked in this tiny place? Well, it is in part due to a War Widow named Gundula Holbrook. Lieutenant Norman Holbrook commanded...
Culture of Silence
ABC Four Corners Interview Mon 13 Jun 2011, 8:00pm Transcript of Interview KERRY O'BRIEN, PRESENTER: A former naval recruit recalls an experience in the Defence Force that she says has marred her life forever. Welcome to Four Corners. Back in 1970 Four Corners first...
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Kathryn Spurling served with the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). She completed an honours degree in History at the Australian National University and a Masters Degree with Honours and a PhD in military history at University of New South Wales (UNSW). Between 1996 and 2011 Kathryn was attached to School of History, and then the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, UNSW, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, where she tutored history and strategic studies.
In 1999 she organised the Women in Uniform: Perceptions and Pathways Conference the first of its kind in Australia, and edited the book of the same name.
Subsequently Kathryn was the first Australian invited to speak at NATO headquarters, Brussels, on the subject of women in the military; and the first Australian Summer Military History Fellow at the United States Military Academy (West Point). Kathryn was appointed to the ACT Veterans Council, by the ACT Chief Minister in 2011. At the beginning of 2012 Kathryn was appointed Visiting Scholar, School of History, Australian National University.
She has lectured and published extensively within Australia and internationally on military history, peacekeepers, and women in the military. Her book, Cruel Conflict: The Triumph and Tragedy of HMAS Perth I (New Holland) was dedicated to her late husband Cmdr Nigel Patrick John Spurling (RAN Rtd) and was launched by Minister for Defence onboard HMAS Perth III in October 2008. A Grave Too Far Away: A Tribute to Australians in Bomber Command Europe (New Holland) was released in October 2012, and dedicated to her late father, FO Maxwell Norris, RAAF, a WOP/AG on Halifax bombers during WWII. Her book Inspiring Australian Women will be launched in September 2013 and The Mystery of AE1 and Crew will be published in time for the centennial commemoration of the loss of Australia’s first submarine on 14 November 2014.
Marking Time: Women in the Australian Defence Force and Standing Room Only for Heroes are two future projects.
More about Kathryn Spurling
After completing her PhD in military history, Dr. Spurling embarked on an academic journey, teaching and tutoring history and strategic studies at UNSW at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Her expertise and contributions to the field led to her appointment as a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 2011, and subsequentlyWelcome to the world of Dr. Kathryn Spurling, an esteemed historian and writer with a remarkable focus on military biographies and the enduring impact of war. Driven by her unwavering passion for history and her meticulous attention to detail, she has authored numerous books that delve into the lives of those who answered the call to fight, exploring their service, sacrifice, and the lasting effects on their families and future generations.
Dr. Spurling hails from a military background, with her father serving in WWII with Bomber Command in the RAAF. Following in her family’s footsteps, she joined the Women’s Royal Australian Navy (WRANS) after completing her studies, and later married the late Cmdr Nigel Spurling, a RAN engineering officer. Their elder son also followed in their footsteps by serving as a RAN engineering officer.
After completing her PhD in military history, Dr. Spurling embarked on an academic journey, teaching and tutoring history and strategic studies at UNSW at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. Her expertise and contributions to the field led to her appointment as a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University in 2011, and subsequently as an Adjunct Research Associate at Flinders University from 2014 onwards. Notably, Dr. Spurling was the driving force behind the inaugural Australian conference on women in uniform, aptly titled “Perceptions and Pathways.”
With a particular focus on the individual experiences in war, women in the military, and United Nations Peacekeeping, Dr. Spurling has been a sought-after guest lecturer worldwide. Her accomplishments include being the first Australian to lecture at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on women in the military, as well as being awarded a summer visiting fellowship at the United States Military Academy (Westpoint). She has also delivered keynote speeches at the Women in Uniform Conference in Washington D.C. on four occasions, and has been a keynote speaker at the Australian Women of the Year National Congress. Additionally, Dr. Spurling has shared her expertise at the Danish Defence College, the Chief of Defence Force Conference on Women in Security and the ADF, the Crime and Justice Challenges for the Contemporary Military Conference in Onati, Spain, and many more prestigious events and commemorative addresses.
Dr. Spurling’s contributions to the field of military history have been widely acknowledged, establishing her as an esteemed authority and captivating speaker on the subject. Her books have garnered praise from both readers and critics for their captivating narratives and meticulous research. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Spurling is deeply committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of historians and writers. Her work has made significant contributions to the study of military history and has advanced the wider field of historical research.
Dr. Spurling has also made notable appearances in the media, including on programs such as The Drum, Four Corners, ABC news, Insight, and WIN news. She has been a frequent guest on radio interviews, both commercial and with renowned organizations such as the BBC and ABC. Most recently, she featured on “Brunch 15 minutes” with ABC Adelaide on April 19, 2023.
In collaboration with Ghetto Media, Dr. Spurling is set to release a documentary in May 2023 titled “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998,” delving into the experiences of survivors and the families affected by the tragic event, which still holds unanswered questions regarding the loss of four lives.
Dr. Spurling’s published works showcase her diverse interests and expertise. Some of her notable books include “Women in Uniform: Perceptions and Pathways” (co-edited with E. Greenhalgh), “Cruel Conflict: The Triumph and Tragedy of HMAS Perth 1,” “A Grave Too Far Away: A Tribute to Australians in Bomber Command Europe,” “Inspiring Australian Women,” “The Mystery of AE1: Australia’s Lost Submarine and Crew,” “HMAS Canberra Casualty of Circumstances,” “Abandoned and Sacrificed: The Tragedy of the Montevideo Maru,” “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998” (winner of the ACT Writers and Publishing Award), “Bureaucracy, Bankers and Bastards: A Farmer’s Story,” “Fury to Hell,” and “Light Horse to Australian Flying Corps: Too many battles for one Man,” scheduled for publication in 2023 by New Holland.
Through her exceptional body of work, Dr. Kathryn Spurling continues to shed light on the invaluable service and sacrifice of those who have fought in wars, ensuring their legacies are not forgotten by the very authorities and communities they served as an Adjunct Research Associate at Flinders University from 2014 onwards. Notably, Dr. Spurling was the driving force behind the inaugural Australian conference on women in uniform, aptly titled “Perceptions and Pathways.”
With a particular focus on the individual experiences in war, women in the military, and United Nations Peacekeeping, Dr. Spurling has been a sought-after guest lecturer worldwide. Her accomplishments include being the first Australian to lecture at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on women in the military, as well as being awarded a summer visiting fellowship at the United States Military Academy (Westpoint). She has also delivered keynote speeches at the Women in Uniform Conference in Washington D.C. on four occasions, and has been a keynote speaker at the Australian Women of the Year National Congress. Additionally, Dr. Spurling has shared her expertise at the Danish Defence College, the Chief of Defence Force Conference on Women in Security and the ADF, the Crime and Justice Challenges for the Contemporary Military Conference in Onati, Spain, and many more prestigious events and commemorative addresses.
Dr. Spurling’s contributions to the field of military history have been widely acknowledged, establishing her as an esteemed authority and captivating speaker on the subject. Her books have garnered praise from both readers and critics for their captivating narratives and meticulous research. In addition to her scholarly pursuits, Dr. Spurling is deeply committed to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of historians and writers. Her work has made significant contributions to the study of military history and has advanced the wider field of historical research.
Dr. Spurling has also made notable appearances in the media, including on programs such as The Drum, Four Corners, ABC news, Insight, and WIN news. She has been a frequent guest on radio interviews, both commercial and with renowned organizations such as the BBC and ABC. Most recently, she featured on “Brunch 15 minutes” with ABC Adelaide on April 19, 2023.
In collaboration with Ghetto Media, Dr. Spurling is set to release a documentary in May 2023 titled “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998,” delving into the experiences of survivors and the families affected by the tragic event, which still holds unanswered questions regarding the loss of four lives.
Dr. Spurling’s published works showcase her diverse interests and expertise. Some of her notable books include “Women in Uniform: Perceptions and Pathways” (co-edited with E. Greenhalgh), “Cruel Conflict: The Triumph and Tragedy of HMAS Perth 1,” “A Grave Too Far Away: A Tribute to Australians in Bomber Command Europe,” “Inspiring Australian Women,” “The Mystery of AE1: Australia’s Lost Submarine and Crew,” “HMAS Canberra Casualty of Circumstances,” “Abandoned and Sacrificed: The Tragedy of the Montevideo Maru,” “Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998” (winner of the ACT Writers and Publishing Award), “Bureaucracy, Bankers and Bastards: A Farmer’s Story,” “Fury to Hell,” and “Light Horse to Australian Flying Corps: Too many battles for one Man,” scheduled for publication in 2023 by New Holland.
Through her exceptional body of work, Dr. Kathryn Spurling continues to shed light on the invaluable service and sacrifice of those who have fought in wars, ensuring their legacies are not forgotten by the very authorities and communities they served.