The Coast Watchers

by Eric A. Feldt

Tells the story of the operations of the Coast Watching Organization in the islands north and northeast of Australia during the crucial period when the Japanese were advancing southwards and threatening Australia and, therefore, the Allied control of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Genres: Military History, World War II, Nonfiction, War, History, Military Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1946

Reviews

[Kathleen (itpdx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father loved history and was a World War II veteran. Many years ago, when I was getting ready for my first trip to Australia, I told him that the tunnel-vision history taught in the US had not included anything about what had happened in Australia during the war and I was surprised to find that Darwin had been bombed more than 50 times by the Japanese. He pulled this book off his shelf. I have finally gotten around to reading it. It is a fascinating account of a unique unit of the Australian navy written by its commander. Starting before the war, civilians in Australia and in the islands to their north and east (which had been administered by the Australians since WWI)were recruited to watch for unusual activity. The recruits were unpaid and had to have their own radios. When the war started and the Japanese pushed into the islands some of these men ended up behind enemy lines. They provided invaluable information to the Allies and helped evacuate downed pilots, and civilians. The unit evolved rapidly during the war.
Feldt does a good job of bringing some of their personalities and trials to us. He explains why their training was different from other military outfits. And the reasons for some of their successes and failures. You can tell that he feels each loss deeply.
The book includes some very helpful maps and each chapter is headed with the page numbers of the maps for the territory covered. I would have loved an index to be able to refresh my memory as various members of the service moved and were assigned to new areas.
Feldt ends the book with "This ends the story of the coast watchers. May no one ever have to do it again." Although this story is unique I think that there are many lessons for military intelligence within its pages.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad loaned it to me just long enough to read, and no wonder he wanted it back. It's a fast page-turner with its own real-life tension. Could you do what they did? Hide behind enemy lines 24/7 and radio their movements.

Only a very few brave souls did.

I think it's one reason I've always had a fascination with that end of the world. McHale's Navy probably helped, too. I have thoroughly intended to get there twice, but I am 0-2 in that quest.

It's all true, as far as we know. It was originally published in 1946, and well worth hunting down. I might even read it again.

I am constantly reminded of this book, binge-watching Australian-based Sea Patrol on Tubi. They frequently mention their modern-day coast watchers.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, but very old. This is a very rarely reported part of WWII. These brave men, many that were just civilians, reported on movements of the enemy planes and ships to give early warning to the Allied forces. Often hunted by the enemy, and with primitive radio equipment, they carried on though most of the war in the pacific. Fighting disease, extreme heat, starvation, and the enemy, they held a lonely vigil.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

One more from the excellent Bantam (Ballantine) War Book series -- mainly contemporary accounts or memoirs -- this one on the South Pacific campaigns. Can you say "dangerous"?

My version's cover looks just like this but is a paperback.

The exploits of the coast watcher are so remarkable that I might read this again. On the other hand, I just purchased Walter Lord's account of these people, so I'll read that first.

[Eliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is ... fine? Not the best primary material I've ever read, and the author's own absence from the action tends this more towards a secondary source. Valuable context for the War in the Pacific.

[Chris Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve visited many of the islands covered in this book.

It was a bit shocking in the attitudes of the day, we have certainly come a long way with how we view our fellow man.

[Marco Antonio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Con este libro me quedó claro que no hay que dejarse llevar por las portadas.
Si bien desconocía completamente la historia de los Vigías de la Costa y el papel fundamental que desempeñaron durante la campaña del Pacífico en la segunda guerra mundial, este título me entretuvo en escasos pasajes. Ausencia total de diálogos, un sinfín de nombres de operadores de radios, y el gran número de islas y localizaciones hacían muy díficil retener semejante tamaño de información en tan pocas páginas.
Lo positivo está en el aprendizaje de lo que desconocía. El llamado plan Ferdinand y la peligrosa actividad que realizaban los operadores muchos de ellos isleños, su relación con los nativos y el papel que estos a su vez desempeñaban bajo las narices de los invasores japoneses.
Lo apreciaría mejor cómo fuente de documentación, para algún trabajo de investigación o algo parecido pero no para una lectura casual.

[Andrew]

When reading this book one has to keep in mind what the bok is. It is a recount of the actions and movements of a particular aspect of Australia's military forces during the Second World War. It is not a narrative, or an adventure story. It does not have characters in the traditional sense. It has many lists of names and descriptions of the movement of forces around the North-East riegion. There are some amazing stories of bravery and commitment, and it gives deep insight into many peoples experiences of war.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good account of the incredible job done in various Pacific islands by those who either stayed behind when war came to the region, or who "parachuted" in in one way or another and gave valuable information to the Allies concerning Japanese troop movements. It also details the significant contribution of the indigenous peoples whose lands these were.

[Alexandra Cornwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took this book (not sure which edition but it was a hardcover) on my travels to the Solomon Islands back in 1996 when I was a volunteer undertaking a Rotary project in Honiara. Travelling through islands in the Western Province after being treated to a tour of some of the major battlesites around Honiara was certainly brought to life by reading this book.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

disappointed. Should have been much more gripping tales of what these men did and dared to do.

[Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very interesting topic. Very dry read.