Code of Silence: How Australian Women Helped Win the War”

 Code of Silence: How Australian Women Helped Win the War”

Reviewed By  Nan van Dissel       November 19, 2025

 

Author  Diana Thorpe

Distributor:      Monash University Publishing
ISBN:                 978-1923192416
Publisher:         Monash University Publishing
Release Date:   22 October 2025  

Website:    https://publishing.monash.edu/product/code-of-silence/ 

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Australian men’s war time service has generally been well documented; however, this is not the case of the dedicated women, who were entrusted with the complex work of decoding and intercepting enemy messages and transmitting intelligence both locally and globally. They kept silent about these top-secret activities for almost 40 years and it is only now with Diana Thorp’s book ‘Code of Silence’ that their remarkable captivating personal stories are being told; most of these women were in their late teens and early twenties.

Diana Thorp, in her meticulously researched historical non-fiction work not only brings the story of these remarkable women to life but also gives the reader an insight into the average Australian’s life during the difficult years of World War II. With the bombing of Darwin and the imminent threat of pending further invasion from the Japanese, she shares with readers the importance of their valuable work and the sacrifices they made in service to their country; many gave up civilian lives and went into army camps, which were often a great distance from their home.

The vibrant personal accounts not only relate the details of the valuable but exhausting work, but also their day-to-day activities and the long-lasting friendships which were formed in those uncertain times; professionalism and dedication emanate through these accounts.

The extensive research and the perseverance of the author to track down these women, is to be commended as it has uncovered some unsung heroes, whose contribution to winning the war would have gone largely unrecognized.  The photos of the women in uniform added to the comprehensive bibliography and notes, will make this a wonderful resource for future historians.

Documentary, History, Non Fiction