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Code of Silence: How Australian Women Helped Win the War
The compelling and as-yet-untold story of the Australian women whose secret work helped to end World War II.
Many swore they would keep their covert roles hidden, even from their families. Eighty years later, their intriguing stories are starting to emerge.
As World War II climbed to its crescendo in the Asia-Pacific, the Australian government called in a new weapon: women. Within this female arsenal was a top-secret group focused on signals intelligence.
These young women, many just teens, were soon dotted across Australia, working in discreet locations – from an outback bunker disguised as a farmhouse to a Melbourne apartment block, from the garage of a Brisbane manor to a Perth girls’ school. As war inched closer to home, they became our secret weapon, intercepting enemy messages and passing intelligence between local networks and allies across the globe, from Bletchley Park to the United States and across the Asia-Pacific. Some information was so sensitive it was burned to ensure its security. Their covert work helped the Allies win the pivotal battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, and plot the assassination of the Japanese commander behind the Pearl Harbour bombings.
When war ended, the women rejoiced. Demobilised and reminded of their oaths of secrecy, they returned to civilian lives. Some followed careers, others married and raised families. Their service remained hidden – until recently.
This is not just an extraordinary war story, but a coming-of-age tale for the nation and its women. It brings to life a new Anzac, neither male nor bloodied from battle. It is time to write these remarkable women back into our history, where they belong.
Many swore they would keep their covert roles hidden, even from their families. Eighty years later, their intriguing stories are starting to emerge.
As World War II climbed to its crescendo in the Asia-Pacific, the Australian government called in a new weapon: women. Within this female arsenal was a top-secret group focused on signals intelligence.
These young women, many just teens, were soon dotted across Australia, working in discreet locations – from an outback bunker disguised as a farmhouse to a Melbourne apartment block, from the garage of a Brisbane manor to a Perth girls’ school. As war inched closer to home, they became our secret weapon, intercepting enemy messages and passing intelligence between local networks and allies across the globe, from Bletchley Park to the United States and across the Asia-Pacific. Some information was so sensitive it was burned to ensure its security. Their covert work helped the Allies win the pivotal battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, and plot the assassination of the Japanese commander behind the Pearl Harbour bombings.
When war ended, the women rejoiced. Demobilised and reminded of their oaths of secrecy, they returned to civilian lives. Some followed careers, others married and raised families. Their service remained hidden – until recently.
This is not just an extraordinary war story, but a coming-of-age tale for the nation and its women. It brings to life a new Anzac, neither male nor bloodied from battle. It is time to write these remarkable women back into our history, where they belong.
234 pages, Paperback
Published October 22, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 20, 2025
Reviewed by Nan van Dissel for Monash University Publishing and Bluewolf Reviews.
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.
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.
Displaying 1 of 1 review