World History: Second World War

As you climbed the rickety stairs of an old woolshed at Sydney harbour in 1944, the sound of beeping would become almost deafening. Rows of men and women in uniforms and headsets would be tapping away vigorously at small machines, under the careful watch of their young female tra...iners. Presiding over the cacophony was a tiny woman, known to everyone as 'Mrs Mac', one of Australia's wartime legends. Violet McKenzie was the first Australian woman to study electrical engineering, and she was a pioneer in the early days of radio. As the clouds of war gathered in the 1930s, she defied conventions and trained young women in Morse code, foreseeing that their services would soon be sorely needed. Always a champion of women, she even persuaded the navy to set up a new defence force for women, the WRANS. Mrs Mac was adored by the thousands of young women and men she trained, and she came to be respected by the defence forces and the public too for her vision and contribution to the war effort. David Dufty brings her inspiring story back to life for readers today. '[An] incredible and inspiring life... Duffy's new biography captures her unwavering dedication in the face of adversity.' - Professor Genevieve Bell, Australian National University 'A cracking story about the famous Australian radio engineer you've never heard of.' - Dick Smith, entrepreneur and philanthropist
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A tiny dog, the runt of the litter, is born on a remote cattle station. She shouldn't have survived, but when Elsie finds her - and names her Princess - she becomes a beloved pet. Life is perfect a until the War comes. With the Japanese air raids coming closer, Elsie's family lea...ves the Pilbara for the south and safety. But the small dog has to stay behind. After travelling far from home she becomes a hospital dog and sees war come to Western Australia. She is now called Flynn and witnesses wonderful and terrible things and looks after lots of different humans a But through all her adventures and many names, the little dog remembers Elsie, who loved her best of all. Will she ever find her again?
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Between 1942 and 1943, Qantas lost eight aircraft during its involvement in Australia's war against the Japanese. Over sixty passengers and crew died as a result. Yet Qantas' exemplary contribution to Australia's war effort and the courage of its people in those difficult times h...as been forgotten. Courage in the Skies is the remarkable story of Qantas at war and the truly heroic deeds of its crew and ground staff as the Japanese advanced towards Australia. Flying unarmed planes through war zones and at times under enemy fire, the airline supplied the front lines, evacuated the wounded and undertook surprising escapes, including carrying more than forty anxious civilians on the last aircraft to leave besieged Singapore. Absorbing, spirited and fast-paced, above all this is a story of an extraordinary group of Australians who confronted the dark days of World War II with bravery, commitment and initiative. They just happened to be Qantas people. 'In this most readable book, Jim Eames captures the experiences of a small band of brave, professional and pioneering aircrew who confronted the dangers of war, the challenges of unforgiving oceanic and tropical weather and the uncertainty of navigation in unarmed flying boats and conventional aircraft.' - Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret'd)
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'Find out what is happening in the Atlantic, find ways of getting the convoys through, and sink the U-boats!' Prime Minster, Winston Churchill

The definitive history of one of the most brutal campaigns of the war in the Pacific.