Historical information

On 10/12/1942 near Gona whilst guiding the 39th battalion into a village Sgt Bob ISKOV and fellow soldier Lt Jack Schwind were confronted by three Japanese Officers and were given the order to shoot by their Battalion Commander. They were later identified as a Lieutenant Colonel and one a Major who had in their possession valuable documents including a Map of Darwin defenses. Robert Francis ISKOV VX15237 born at Glenrowan served with the 59th Battalion CMF before joining the 2/14th Battalion at Caulfield in September 1940. He disembarked for the Middle East in November, 1940 and fought in the Syrian campaign in 1941. In 1942 the 2/14th Battalion returned to Australia and sent to Papua where he fought at the Battle of Isurava before the battalion was sent to Gona. On 1943 Bob returned to Australia to undertake officer training and in 1945 with the 2/23rd Battalion sailed to Morotai and served with the battalion on Tarakan. He returned to Australia in November, 1945 and discharged a month later.
Binoculars housed in brown leather case were removed from deceased Japanese Lt Colonel together with medal ribbons and valuable documents including Map of Darwin defenses. They were made by TOKO or Tokyo Optical Co a major military optics manufacturer for the Japanese military during WW2

Physical description

Brown leather look binocular case lined in brown colour cloth. Long narrow leather strap fixed along sides by leather secured in place by metal studs. Fitted lid is attached by leather strap fixed in place by four metal studs at rear. At front is a spring closing mechanism which is broken.