Secret and Special: The Untold Story of Z Special Unit in the Second World War by Will Davies

This book details the history and operations of the Z Special Unit, an Australian-British special operations force during World War II. Formed in 1942 and modelled on the British SOE, the unit's mission was to gather intelligence and conduct sabotage in Japanese-occupied territories. Training took place across Australia, and missions extended throughout Southeast Asia.

Their first major mission, Operation Jaywick in 1943, was a success, resulting in the sinking of 40,000 tons of Japanese shipping in Singapore Harbour. A subsequent operation, Rimau, ended in failure with all commandos killed or captured. Z Special Unit used specialised vessels, including "snake boats," to operate covertly in enemy waters.

One notable mission involved an attempted reconnaissance of Japanese naval guns on Muschu Island in 1945. The mission mostly failed, with only one survivor, Sergeant 'Mick' Dennis, who provided valuable intelligence and was awarded a Military Medal for his bravery.

In total, Z Special Unit conducted 81 covert operations in the Pacific. After the war, the unit was disbanded, but its legacy influenced the development of modern Australian Special Forces.