Overseas, Corps personnel served in the Second Australian Imperial Force in the Middle East. Initially, personnel served mainly on headquarters staff at various levels of command. In 1942 the Australian Corps Field Intelligence Police followed the British model and formed Field Security Sections for each division and corps headquarters. In the Middle East campaign, the most significant intelligence related event involving the Australian Army was the capture on the 10th July 1942 of the German Afrika Korps' 621 Signal Company. This highly experienced signals intelligence unit was captured by the 2/24 Australian Infantry Battalion at Tel el Eisa. The real significance of this capture and subsequent exploitation of the documentation and prisoners by Allied intelligence is cited by the Germans themselves, who are of the firm belief that the loss of 621 Signal Company was the turning point of the campaign in North Africa. It is recorded that the Commander of the Afrika Korps, General Erwin Rommel on hearing that his signals intelligence company had been captured, had to sit down, and was then heard to murmur 'They have plucked out my eyes and ears'.
Australian Intelligence Corps Association