Athanasius Treweek
Encyclopedia
Major
Athanasius Pryor "Ath" Treweek (1912–1995) was an Australian academic, linguist and code-breaker. He was the son of Walter Henry Treweek who came to Australia in the mid-1890s and Mary Treweek.
After attending St Ignatius' College, Riverview
, where he was dux
in 1928, "Ath" Treweek (as he was generally known) won the 1932 Cooper Scholarship for first place in Latin
and Greek examinations conducted by the University of Sydney
, eventually going on to become a Professor
of Classics
at that very same institution
.
In 1937, in anticipation of impending war, he had taught himself to read Japanese
. Following the outbreak of World War II
in 1939, he was seconded from the Australian Army
to FRUMEL
in Melbourne
which was linked to the American Sixth Fleet. He was part of a team instrumental in breaking Japanese naval codes
. A Japanese success there would have been a major blow for the Allies. Decoded signals following the battle confirmed the Japanese had lost four aircraft carriers. This ended Japan's offensive capability: from then on, its strategy was defensive. It was the turning point.
(1919–2005), was an academic and teacher. They married in 1942 and had three daughters and one son. One daughter, Elizabeth, died shortly after birth. Their son, David Treweek, predeceased his mother.
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
Athanasius Pryor "Ath" Treweek (1912–1995) was an Australian academic, linguist and code-breaker. He was the son of Walter Henry Treweek who came to Australia in the mid-1890s and Mary Treweek.
After attending St Ignatius' College, Riverview
St Ignatius' College, Riverview
Saint Ignatius' College, Riverview is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school for boys, located in Riverview, a small suburb situated on the Lane Cove River on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
, where he was dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
in 1928, "Ath" Treweek (as he was generally known) won the 1932 Cooper Scholarship for first place in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Greek examinations conducted by the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
, eventually going on to become a Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
at that very same institution
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
.
In 1937, in anticipation of impending war, he had taught himself to read Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
. Following the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939, he was seconded from the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
to FRUMEL
FRUMEL
Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne was a United States-Australian-British signals intelligence unit, based in Melbourne, Australia during World War II. It was one of two major Allied signals intelligence units, called Fleet Radio Units, in the Pacific theatres, the other being FRUPAC , in Hawaii...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
which was linked to the American Sixth Fleet. He was part of a team instrumental in breaking Japanese naval codes
Code (cryptography)
In cryptography, a code is a method used to transform a message into an obscured form, preventing those who do not possess special information, or key, required to apply the transform from understanding what is actually transmitted. The usual method is to use a codebook with a list of common...
. A Japanese success there would have been a major blow for the Allies. Decoded signals following the battle confirmed the Japanese had lost four aircraft carriers. This ended Japan's offensive capability: from then on, its strategy was defensive. It was the turning point.
Family
Athanasius Treweek's wife, Hazel TreweekHazel Treweek
Hazel Treweek, OAM, MBE was an Australian academic, teacher and Shakespearean scholar. She was married to Athanasius "Ath" Treweek, an Australian academic, linguist and World War II cryptographer/codebreaker....
(1919–2005), was an academic and teacher. They married in 1942 and had three daughters and one son. One daughter, Elizabeth, died shortly after birth. Their son, David Treweek, predeceased his mother.