Dr Kathryn Spurling
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Stories of courage, injustice and the people history tried to forget.
Historian, author and internationally recognised advocate whose work uncovers hidden military histories, institutional failures and extraordinary lives.
She survived the fire. The Navy buried the truth.
A devastating ship fire. A best friend blamed for the deaths of her own crew. And a cover-up that reaches the highest ranks of the Australian Defence Force.
Most Australians have never been told what really happened that day at sea. I went looking for the truth, and what I found will leave you breathless — a story of corruption, courage, and a woman who refused to let her best friend take the blame for a crime she didn’t commit.
Military History
Stories of service, sacrifice and the human cost of war.
Women Who Changed History
Recognising remarkable women whose contributions have been ignored or forgotten.
Truth and Accountability
Investigating institutional failure, abuse of power and the people who refused to remain silent.
About Kathryn
Dr Kathryn Spurling is an Australian military historian, author and former member of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service. Her work combines rigorous historical research with deeply human storytelling, bringing overlooked experiences of war, service and institutional injustice into public view.
She has lectured internationally on women in the military, peacekeeping and military history, including at NATO Headquarters and the United States Military Academy at West Point. Kathryn is also an experienced media commentator and an engaging speaker for conferences, commemorations, festivals and community events.
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...
Would you like Kathryn to talk at your next event?
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.