Australian Code Breakers
Our Top-Secret War with The Kaiser's Reich
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Australian Code Breakers
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Narrated by:
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James Saunders
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By:
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James Phelps
About this listen
The extraordinary story of a headmaster turned cryptographer, and our top-secret war with the Kaiser's Reich.
On 11 August 1914, just days after war had been declared, Australian Captain J.T. Richardson boarded a German merchant vessel fleeing Melbourne's Port Phillip and audaciously seized a top-secret naval codebook. The fledgling Australian Navy had an opportunity to immediately change the course of the war. But what exactly had they found? Enter the Australian code breakers....
Recruited by savvy top brass, maths whizz and German speaker Frederick Wheatley worked night and day to fathom the basic principles of the code and start tracking the German Navy's powerful East Asia Squadron, led by the brilliant Maximilian von Spee. Soon Melbourne was a hub of international Allied intelligence.
This is the untold story of how a former Australian headmaster and his mostly female team cracked one of Germany's most complex codes, paving the way for the greatest Allied naval victory of World War I.
©2020 James Phelps (P)2020 HarperCollins PublishersWhat listeners say about Australian Code Breakers
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-02-2022
Great piece of Aussie history
Reveals the fumblings of the British admiralty and highlights important work done by Australians during WW1. Entertaining delivery!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Daniel Bingham
- 01-09-2021
Amazing story on a piece of untold history
Excellent narrator, gripping at times. Hearing the codes put into perspective on the challenge that Wheatley faced.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 21-02-2022
Heroes denied
Who knew Australia fired the first shots of aggression in WWI? Exceeding the skill of Bletchley Park for its day, the story of Fred Wheatley and the Australian Navy Office is one that would defy belief and indeed would not be known if the British had their way. This is a riveting story of a collection of dedicated and capable men whose exceptional skill in ciphers and naval tactics made a significant impact on the early part of WWI - and would have had an even bigger impact had British Admiralty not debased them. James Patterson weaves a compelling story, blending historical accuracy with personable qualities if his characters. He elicits empathy for both the Germans and the Australians, but, it must be said, anger at the Brits.
This is an outstanding book - one which any lover of Australian history, military history or even true crime will find engaging and enthralling.
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