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You are here: Home / Archives for Article topics / Book reviews / Biographies

Biographies

Occasional Paper 40: Secret History of the First Australian to be given Penicillin

David Stratton · Nov 15, 2018 ·

On Thursday 9th August 2018 the ABC 7.30 Report broadcast a story by Tracy Bowden about the first use of penicillin in Australia.  Tracy has given permission to the Naval ...

Occasional Paper 39: The Story Of Commander Paul Hugill Hirst RAN 1899-1963

A.N. Other · Nov 14, 2018 ·

November 2018 Compelled to Resign: The Story Of Commander Paul Hugill Hirst RAN 1899-1963 by Lieutenant Commander Terry Feltham RAN Ret’d “Just because something ends doesn’t mean it never should’ve ...

Occasional Paper 31: Captain Edmund Anstice, RN

A.N. Other · Oct 29, 2018 ·

July 2018 The following is a brief passage from the memoirs of Geoffrey Dobbin who was both a Merchant Navy and Royal Naval Reserve Officer.  Geoffrey Dobbin was related through ...

Occasional Paper 29: Captain Frederick Melbourne Piggott’s Submarine Service

Piggott, Lieut. Cdr. F.M., RD, MNI, RNR. Rtd., · Oct 29, 2018 ·

June 2018 Captain Frederick Melbourne Piggott RD RNR was born in the UK in April 1915 and moved to Australia in 1943 where he trained young men to handle a ...

Occasional Paper 14: Interview with Lieutenant Commander Mackenzie Gregory, R.A.N. Rtd

A.N. Other · Sep 15, 2018 ·

Amended interview with Australians at War Film Archive This original interview is from this page, the Australians at War Film Archive. There is also a copy of the uncorrected interview ...

Book Review: South Sea Argonaut – James Colnett and the Enlargement of the Pacific 1772 -1803

Book reviewer · Mar 24, 2018 ·

By Granville Allen Mawer. Published by Australian Scholarly Publishing, Melbourne, 2017. Paperback of 246 pages with black & white photographs, plans and illustrations. Available from booksellers and online from $44.00. ...

Occasional Paper 19: Surgeon Commander Alexander Ruan Caw, RAN

A.N. Other · Dec 1, 2017 ·

December 2017 Surgeon Commander Alexander Ruan Caw, RAN MB BS. Adelaide. 1879-1924 These biographical notes on CMDR Alexander Caw who served in HMAS Australia during World War 1 were provided ...

Occasional Paper 20: Surgeon LCDR Jack Rupert Law Willis, RAN

A.N. Other · Dec 1, 2017 ·

December 2017 Surgeon LCDR Jack Rupert Law Willis, RAN 1888-1971 MB BS Melb These biographical notes on LCDR Jack Willis who served in HMS Prince of Wales during World War ...

Book Review: John Jess, Seeker of Justice

Book reviewer · Sep 27, 2016 ·

By Elizabeth McCarthy. Sid Harta Publishers, Melbourne, 2015. Paperback 320 pages. RRP $29.95 but discounts available. This book, published in August 2015, was written by a daughter of John Jess ...

Book Review: Crime, Punishment and Redemption – A Convict’s Story

Book reviewer · Dec 23, 2014 ·

  Crime, Punishment and Redemption – A Convict’s Story. By June Slee. National Library of Australia Publishing, Canberra, 2014. Landscape sized softcover of 207 pages, liberally illustrated with coloured prints, ...

Book Review: Arthur Phillip: Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy

Book reviewer · Mar 24, 2014 ·

Arthur Phillip: Sailor, Mercenary, Governor, Spy. By Michael Pembroke, Hardie Grant Books, Melbourne, 2013. Hardback, 354 pages, rrp $34.40 To his biography of Arthur Phillip the author adds – sailor, ...

Book Review: Ray Parkin’s Odyssey

Book reviewer · Mar 24, 2013 ·

Ray Parkin’s Odyssey by Pattie Wright. Published by Pan Macmillan Australia, Sydney, 2012. Hardback of 672 pages with over 100 excellent paintings and sketches, rrp $49.99. The story of the ...

Our First Engineer Admiral Vice Admiral Sir William Clarkson, KBE, CMG, RAN.

A.N. Other · Dec 24, 2012 ·

By Chris Clark When Engineer Rear-Admiral Sir William Clarkson retired from the Royal Australian Navy on 1 November 1922 with the honorary rank of Vice-Admiral, it brought to a close ...

Book Review: Flinders Year 1947

Book reviewer · Jun 5, 2008 ·

Flinders Year 1947 Presents the stories of twenty four young men who joined the Royal Australian Navy at age thirteen by entering the Naval College at Flinders Naval Depot, HMAS ...

Pages: Page 1 Page 2

Book Review: The Indomitable Captain Matthew Flinders, RN

Book reviewer · Mar 4, 2007 ·

The Indomitable Captain Matthew Flinders, Royal Navy. By Peter Ashley. Published by Pierhead Press, England. rrp A$22.00. Reviewed by Dave Rickard The author, Peter Ashley, has spent nearly four decades ...

Book Review: The Rattlesnake

Book reviewer · Sep 3, 2006 ·

The Rattlesnake by Jordan Goodman. Published by Faber and Faber 358 pages, illustrated.ISBN 1 5712 1973 2 Reviewed by Graeme Andrews. Who was Owen Stanley that he could get a ...

Book Review: Captain Eric Nave, Australian Codebreaker

Book reviewer · Jun 18, 2006 ·

A Man of Intelligence – The Life of Captain Eric Nave, Australian Codebreaker Extraordinary By Dr Ian Pfennigwerth, Captain, RAN (Rtd) Reviewed by LCDR Ron Robb, RAN (Rtd) This book ...

Book Review: A Man of Intelligence -The Life of Eric Nave

Book reviewer · Jun 3, 2006 ·

A Man of Intelligence – The Life of Captain Eric Nave, Australian Codebreaker Extraordinary. By Dr Ian Pfennigwerth, Captain, RAN (Rtd). Publisher Rosenberg Publishing P/L, Dural, 2006. Reviewed by LCDR ...

Book Review: Jack Aubrey triple pack

Book reviewer · Mar 12, 2006 ·

Jack Aubrey Commands – An Historical Companion to the Naval Work of Patrick O’Brian By Brian Lavery Patrick O’Brian’s Navy – The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey’s World Richard O’Neill ...

Book Review: A Merciful Journey

Francis, Richard · Dec 3, 2005 ·

Merciful Journey – Recollections of a World War II Patrol Boat Man – by Marsden Hordern – The Miegunyah Press – imprint of Melbourne University Publishing Ltd., 2005. The distinguished ...

Book Review: Flip Side War

Book reviewer · Sep 27, 2005 ·

Title: Flip Side War: Recollections of the author’s experiences in the RAN, World War II Author: Ean McDonald Publisher: Hesperian Press – Carlisle WA 6101 ISBN 0 85905 353 9 ...

Book Review: The Biography of Captain Sir Richard Spencer RN

Book reviewer · Sep 27, 2005 ·

Title: The Biography of Captain Sir Richard Spencer RN, Government Resident at Albany, Western Australia 1833 – 1839 (Napoleonic War naval hero and Australian pioneer) Author: Gwen Chessell, 2005, Publisher: ...

Book Review: Who’s Who in Naval History: 1550 to Present

Book reviewer · Dec 18, 2004 ·

Who’s Who in Naval History: from 1550 to the Present By Alastair Wilson and Joseph F. Callo Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, Oxon, 2004. Reviewed by LCDR Glen Kerr, RAN ...

Book Review: Full Circle – Log of the Navy’s No. 1 Conscript

Book reviewer · Sep 18, 2003 ·

Full Circle: Log of the Navy’s No. 1 Conscript By John Gritten Cualann Press, ISBN 0 9535036 9 0. 6 Corpach Drive, Dunfermline, Fife, KY12 7XG Scotland. Reviewed by Ian ...

Book Review: We Seemed To Get There

Downes, A.M., Captain · Sep 10, 2002 ·

Title: We Seemed to Get There Author: Captain Herbert W. Bolles, MN Ever wondered what the Merchant Navy did, both in War and Peace? This is a truly superb book – an ...

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