Jean McLain learnt how to interpret and use morse code from her two older brothers as they messaged
each other through bedroom walls. By 16 she is an accomplished morse coder and working for the local post office. Her brothers had joined the war effort and she wondered about the adventures they were having far from home. But it is 1917 and although women were also aiding the war effort, it felt like the only adventures she will have will be in their small English village.
At least until the British Army call on her. Jean had won a National Morse Code competition and they needed her special skills in ‘the war to end all wars.’
She nearly doesn’t even make it to her first position then discovers there is no adventure as an army signaller either. Just 12 – 18 hr days sitting at a desk – listening to morse code and replying when required. To Jean it sounds like a group of sparrows. Peck, peck, peck and all TOP secret.
Soon she receives another visitor from the British Army, requesting much, much more from her. They need a skilled signaller who will not panic in dangerous situations and will keep a clear head when under fire. She will be helping with a top secret special mission which is hoped to finally put an end to the endless war. She will be in the thick of the fighting at the war front, with rats, lice, mud, flying bullets and mortars and only men for company. But she is pleased to encounter someone she has met before…
Once again, Australian author and historian Jackie French, has taken us back into a time of war, family, courage and sacrifice, all in the call of duty.
Secret Sparrow is told in two timeframes. It begins in 1978 Burrangong (NSW Aust) when our heroine Jean McLain is in her later years, but still enjoys riding her motorcycle. A flash flood races through the town and new mall with Jean outrunning it. She rescues a boy named Arjun along the way and they end up on the highest point looking down on their flooded town. They settle in for a long night and Jean begins to tell Arjun her story.
It’s a fascinating one including action, insights into a signaler’s life and the conditions of life in the trenches of WWI. There is a fledging romance thread that even young Arjun is interested in as he listens to Jean’s war experiences.
Soon he is the one worrying about elderly Jean as the cold and dark sinks in, adding yet another layer of tension to this story.
An epilogue shows them still connected years beyond and an author’s note is an interesting addition. Jackie French highlights the ineptitude of the ‘higher ups’ in the British Army which caused the loss of millions of lives.
Secret Sparrow is a welcome addition to much needed well researched tales of women’s huge contributions to war – other than knitting socks, letter writing, or baking for the troops. Would highly recommend this slice of WWI.
Author – Jackie French
Age – 12+
(2023, Harper Collins Aust, Action, Adventure, Courage, Family, Historical, Love, Secret, War, Signaler, Post Office, British Army, Trench warfare, In the Trenches, Women in the army, Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, WAAC, Ineptitude, Loss of Lives, 1917, 1978)