- Author
- Letter Writer
- Subjects
- History - general, Naval history, Letter to the Editor
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- None noted.
- Publication
- December 2020 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
Re: Naval Historical Review Vol. 41 No 73 Sept. 2020, An Essay on the Forming of the Royal Australian Navy by Midshipman Lloyd Skinner
Dear Editor
I read Lloyd’s essay and research with great interest as it was well presented but I thought a comment about the brevity of ‘Background’ is needed.
The author’s opening brief ‘Background’ paragraph refers to the ‘formation’ of the Royal Australian Navy, based on a number of factors that I consider needs amplifying as the author seems to me to have focused on the 1911 receipt of Royal Patronage as if that great notable event was the beginning of the Australian Navy whereas, in fact, it commenced on 1 March 1901.
There is a need to recall more of our past Colonial and early Federation history founding and growth in order to appreciate how our navies developed, which Lloyd has generally done very well except for the brief ‘Background’ which is so brief that I consider a more detailed broader coverage is needed to understand how the several decades of Naval development occurred.
My brief resumé is what I consider are significant events that should form part of any ‘Background” on this topic.
I hope you will be able to print this in a future edition and await your reply.
Yours Aye!
John
John M. Wilkins, CMDR OAM RFD* RANR Rtd – FIE Aust. Rtd
By Editor: The full content of John’s letter was forwarded to our young award-winning essayist and he has since been in contact. Some further comment was made upon this essay in the following extract of an email received from Captain John McGrath RN Rtd., an ex-Dean of the Manadon Royal Naval Engineering College.
The latest issue of NHR was fascinating as always and, yes, I did enjoy the article about Wheatley. He really did seem to be a true polymath. I also thought that Mid. Skinner’s summary about the formation of the RAN was a masterly distillation of a complex subject. If I could, I should pass on my warmest congratulations to him on a fine piece of work. The story of the FNV also caught my attention because it seemed to fit so well into the pattern of volunteering that was happening at the same time in the UK. Just in case it is of any interest, I’ve penned a short note, attached, on this subject. If you decide it is usable, please let me now and I’ll send jpegs of the illustrations.
By Editor: This shows that good quality essays coming from the Naval College are appreciated.