- Author
- Parker, R.G., OBE, Captain, RAN (Rtd)
- Subjects
- Naval history, Biographies and personal histories
- Tags
- None noted.
- RAN Ships
- HMAS Napier, HMAS Melbourne I, HMAS Parramatta I, HMAS Australia II, HMAS Norman I, HMAS Cerberus (Shore Establishment), HMAS Success I, HMAS Nizam, HMAS Stuart I, HMAS Nestor, HMAS Vendetta I, HMAS Westralia I, HMAS Canberra I, HMAS Anzac I, HMAS Geranium, HMAS Waterhen
- Publication
- December 1975 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
At Alexandria, most of the ship’s company was drafted to other Australian destroyers. In due course, Rosy, myself and two other Nestor officers embarked in the hastily-converted Norwegian transport Elizabeth Bakke, for return to Australia. There were over 200 troops and seamen onboard, and as the senior officer, Rosenthal was OC Troops.
His next appointment was as Australian Naval Attaché, Washington. It was an excellent choice to send an experienced Destroyer officer who, quite apart from being highly decorated, was a good mixer with a generous and, outgoing personality.
He left Washington at the end of 1944, having renewed his friendship there with his old Fleet Commander Admiral Sir James Somerville.
His next appointment was Captain of the Dockyard and Deputy Superintendent, Garden Island Dockyard, which carried promotion to the acting rank of Captain.
In May 1946 he was appointed Director of Naval Reserves, where he served until March 1956. He was awarded the OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours in 1951.
After serving as Director of Studies of the Industrial Mobilisation Course from 1956 to 1958, his last appointment was as Director of Recruiting – Combined Services, until 1962; this appointment carried the acting rank of Commodore.
He enjoyed a long retirement, and was unfortunate in having an early business venture not develop successfully, but he took this in his stride in his usual cheerful fashion; he fell back on his great lifetime hobby, model-making. He had an excellent workshop at his home, and made some beautiful models of locomotives and ships; the detailed and intricate work was that of a true craftsman and perfectionist. To some, he became somewhat of a recluse, but he maintained a very keen interest in Naval affairs, particularly of the Naval Historical Society’s history of the ‘N Class’ destroyers in 1971; fortunately for the Society, he was an excellent correspondent, and he was very helpful until shortly before his death.
Captain Rosenthal, a great destroyer captain, and a courageous and most capable officer, died in Melbourne on the 20th July 1975. He was survived by his second wife Allison, and two sons by his first marriage.