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Preview
  • Secret Britain

  • A Journey Through the Second World War's Hidden Bases and Battlegrounds
  • By: Sinclair McKay
  • Narrated by: Sinclair McKay
  • Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (82 ratings)

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Secret Britain

By: Sinclair McKay
Narrated by: Sinclair McKay
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Summary

Discover the stories of the brave men and women who worked, trained and fought across the UK, from Bletchley Park in southern England all the way to Arisaig in northern Scotland, in an unbelievable effort to defeat the Nazis and win the Second World War.

From the outset of the war, most of Britain felt like a mystery even to those who lived there. All road and railway signs were removed up and down the country to thwart potential enemy spies. An invisible web of cunning spread across the United Kingdom; secret laboratories were hidden in marshes, underground bases were built to conceal key strategic plans, and grand country houses became secret and silent locations for eccentric boffins to do their confidential cryptography work.

In Secret Britain, Sinclair McKay maps out the UK through the hidden bases and battlegrounds of WWII. These locations are full of history and intrigue, but if you don't know where to look, you might just miss them. Journeying through secret wildernesses, suburbs, underground tunnels and manor houses, Sinclair gives a glimpse into the stories of the incredible people behind the war effort, and shows how you might be able to visit these mysterious and evocative locations yourself.

With his trademark warmth and compassion, Sinclair unearths the truths of the war that have remained under layers of secrecy since the war was won in 1945.

©2021 Sinclair McKay (P)2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History
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What listeners say about Secret Britain

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fully recommend

Great listen, well researched and well narrated. well worth getting in my opinion 5/5 very good

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

An absolutely fascinating, well researched and delivered audio book. Lots of new knowledge and places to visit! Superb.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great info

Loved the info in the book and the details of the closest stations etc is 1st class.

The narrator wasn't the best for me but thoroughly enjoyed the book and learned some things I didn't know existed.
Only downside was some of the facts on the parts I did know were not 100% correct but that didnt taje away from the enjoyment

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Informative

A ramble through a majority of otherwise unknown military sites. Interesting and I particularly liked the travel advice at the end of each chapter. Worth using the content to supplement other historic venues if travelling in the vicinity.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Secret performance of the British Public.

I found this Audible book very interesting with facts & information that one did not know : loose lips cost lives .
The narrator made the journey round hidden sites in the UK effortless. With gusto & passion.
The only let down was I felt there must be many more sites to be uncovered that wasn’t covered.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great history

A great listen with some amazing stories and facts with some interesting places to visit .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Discoveries

Fascinating accounts from first to last of these hidden histories and unknown sacrifices and efforts of ordinary people's contributions to the noble cause of winning a horrendous war which was not of their own making. Go hear and listen to it NOW, because the author and array of does a grand job in putting it together for you!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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lovely stuff

I dithered between 4 or 5 stars at first as some of the stories won't be particularly new to keen WW2 history fans. But Sinclair made up for it as the book went on. The enjoyable twist on the normal secret history book is the social and the geography aspect, it adds interest and brings the stories alive.

At times McKay's narration style is more personalised, like a podcast. No bad thing actually, it's like a mate giving you tips on how to have a day out!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellently Researched, well narrated

loved it really good previously unknown WW2 infrastructure story. Highly recommended tells of how each location played its part and how they fitted together.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Worth a listen

Very interesting beautifully narrated a glimpse into a world of secrets intrigue and lifestyle during the war

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