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Australia's Secret Army

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Australia's Secret Army

By: Michael Veitch
Narrated by: Michael Veitch
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About this listen

Established after World War I by the Royal Australian Navy, the Coast Watchers were a loose organisation of several hundred European settlers, missionaries, patrol officers and planters living in British and Australian Pacific Island territories whose job it was to observe and report on the enemy. They were mostly all unpaid volunteers whose job it was simply to observe and report on foreign shipping and aeroplane movements.

It was never envisaged that the Coast Watchers would do any fighting, nor operate inside enemy-occupied territory. But when World War II came to the Pacific, that is exactly what they ended up doing, becoming, in effect, Australia's secret army. Fully cognisant of their fate should they be caught, they nonetheless battled not just the enemy, but constant exhaustion, tropical disease, and the ever-present spectre of capture, torture and death.

Without the Coast Watchers and the crucial intelligence they provided, key moments in the war could have turned out very differently. This is the story of these unsung heroes who risked their lives—and sometimes lost them—in the service of their country.

©2022 Michael Veitch (P)2022 Hachette Australia Pty Ltd Armed Forces Australia, New Zealand & Oceania Military Oceania Special & Elite Forces War Air Force
All stars
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This was a really interesting story, highly recommend taking the time to listen to it.

Fascinating bit of history

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Amazing history
The forgotten heroes that now cannot be forgotten thanks to Michael Veitech.
Great voice for narration

Admiration

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I didn’t know about these amazing people and this was such a well researched story of such bravery and dedication. Thank you so very much.

Brilliantly written

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thank you so much for this wonderful true story of some very brave people

just a wonderful true story

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What An incredible story of bravery and resilience in the face of a brutal Japanese enemy,

Unsung heroes

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I learned a bit over the number of years of my 20s that I spent in an out of the western provinces of the Solomon islands, During that time, I learned a lot about the coast watchers. I did read the book Coastwatchers and felt I had a pretty good understanding.

Michael Veitch brings far more information than I ever thought I would have, and a significantly better understanding of the privations and difficulties that the coastwatchers faced at the time they were completing their, often thankless, task.

Well worth the book/listen.

Truly engaging

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Utterly absorbing - for the few who are identified as heroes, there seem many more that are not. Amazing research, wonderful story telling and and thanks to WW2TV (YouTube) otherwise I would not know of this book’s existence.

Long distance car driver

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Loved it. Great stories, attention to detail and it keeps motoring along. Interesting and inspiring from start to finish.

Excellent

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Such a great covering of Australian history in the pacific also learnt a lot about JFK's heroics. I was so disappointed that the book had to come to an end. I wanted it to go on forever.

So Much Australian & US History

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The expression, “Unsung Heroes”, is not uncommon but rarely has it been more appropriate than in the case of the “coastwatchers” of World War Two.
Through his masterful style, Veitch has brought to life those whose names we never knew but whose efforts had a significant impact on combat operations in the Pacific theatre,
I cannot recommend this book highly enough as it provides far more than entertainment…..it fittingly recognises a small band of unsung heroes.

Unsung Heroes

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.