page_title: Winnie the War Winner
section_title: Contact
hierarchical_section_title: Winnie the War Winner / Contact
caption_attribution_description: English: Australian commandos operate a radio on a mountain top in Timor, in about November 1942. They are, (left to right): Signaller Keith Richards, Cpl John Donovan and Sgt Jack Sargeant, all from the 2/2nd Independent Company, which was part of Sparrow Force.
context_page_description: Winnie the War Winner was a radio set built by Sparrow Force during the Battle of Timor in 1942. The radio re-established contact between Sparrow Force and the Australian Army in Darwin on 19 April 1942. At the time, the Allies believed that Sparrow Force had been captured by the Japanese Army. By then, Sparrow Force had fought a guerrilla campaign isolated from Australia for 60 days.
  The radio is currently on display in the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
context_section_description: The first communication between Sparrow Force and Northern Force Headquarters in Darwin was:
  Sparrow Force: "Sparrow Force Timor calling Northern Force Headquarters Darwin. Anyone there, over?"
  Northern Force Headquarters: "Who are you?"
  Sparrow Force: "Jack Sargeant."
  Northern Force Headquarters: "Do you know George Parker?"
  Sparrow Force: "Yes, he is with us."
  Northern Force Headquarters: "What is his rank? Answer immediately."
  Sparrow Force: "Captain."
  Northern Force Headquarters: "Is he there? Bring him to the transmitter. (Pause.) What is the street number of your house?"
  Sparrow Force: "94."
  Northern Force Headquarters: "What is your wife’s name, Jack?"
  Sparrow Force: "Kathleen."
  Northern Force Headquarters: "This is Northern Force Headquarters. Sparrow Force, what is your situation?"
  Sparrow Force: "Force intact. Still fighting. Badly need boots, quinine, money, and Tommy-gun ammunition."
  Northern Force Headquarters: "Will action immediately."
caption: Signaller Keith Richards, Corporal John Donovan and Sergeant Jack Sargeant (left to right), from the Australian 2/2nd Independent Company, using a radio on a mountain top in Japanese-occupied Timor, in about November 1942.
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