Title: King of the Australian Coast. Author: Marsden Horden Publisher: Melbourne University Press at the Miegunyah Press In 1813 James Byrne crossed the Blue Mountains. James who? Byrne did, but we ...
Biographies and personal histories
The Epaulettes of the Father of the RAN – Vice Admiral Sir William Creswell KCMG KBE
Sir William was born at Gibraltar in 1852. At age 13, he entered the Royal Navy, joining the “Britannia” as a Cadet. As a Midshipman in H.M.S. “Phoebe” he enjoyed ...
Obituary: Captain Morton Henry Moyes OBE RAN
The Loss of HMAS Voyager I – Timor, 1942
I would like to comment on the loss of HMAS Voyager I – Monograph No. 25, transcript by Commodore Bryan Cleary, RAN (Rtd). I was serving in HMAS Voyager at the time ...
Commander Hugh W S Browning – HMAS Quiberon
Obituary: Alan Zammit RAN (1927-1997)
One of the Australian Navy’s foremost enthusiasts, Alan Zammit, was buried on Thursday at South Head Cemetery. A man capable of organising other lives, he had organised his own dying ...
Letters: Ashes of Captain Ian McDonald
This is a letter from Mrs. I.H. McDonald (Widow of the late Captain I.H. McDonald RAN – N.H.S. “Review” March 1997) to the Maritime Commander Australia. Rear Admiral C. A. ...
Rear Admiral Sir Henry Wilfred Eldon Manisty KCB CMG RN
“… a really capable officer,” NHR Vol. 17 No. 3 1996 (September 1996). I have long considered that the contribution made by Staff Paymaster (later Fleet Paymaster) Eldon Manisty RN, ...
Stoker Hanlon – Dead men tell no tales
Captain Cook’s Plotting Board
There is a coffee table in Maritime Headquarters, Australia that has a link with Captain Cook. The table has a dark wooden board set into it with the board protected ...
Obituary: Commander Leslie Brooks RAN (1900-1996)
Leslie Brooks was one of the best-known figures of Sydney’s Anzac Day marches with his snowy beard and ramrod straight presence. Brooks joined the Navy at 14, served in two ...
Obituary: Ian Hunter McDonald RAN (1915-1996)
On 25 November 1996, 55 years to the day of the sinking of HMS Barham, in which he was serving and when 862 of his shipmates lost their lives, Captain ...
Australians in the Royal Naval Air Service 1914-1918 (Part 3)
The Harrington Papers – Queensland Defence Force (Marine) 1900-1907
HMAS Bendigo – A RAN Corvette in Singapore – February 1942
Personalities – The Arnold Green Legend (1940s & 1950s)
Dumaresq awards and decorations donated to RAN
The awards and decorations of an Australian Rear Admiral who became one of the most innovative naval officers of his time have been donated to the Royal Australian Navy by ...
Personalities – Able Seaman Thomas Bull (1882-1937)
The Great Australian Naval Board Scandal of 1913
Obituary: John Bastock RAN 1908-1996: Naval Artist
Book Review: Where the Hell is Africa?
Title: “Where the Hell is Africa?” Author: Philip Seymour Publisher: self-published “The Laws of the Navy”, a collection of verses reminiscent of Rudyard Kipling’s “Laws of the Jungle”, was written around ...
Thomas Henry Distin Morgan – Naval Chaplain (1868-1937)
Thomas Henry Distin Morgan, born in England 28th December 1868 – son of John Furlong Morgan and Mary (Bradridge). When three months old his parents returned to their home – ...
A Memoir on Milford Sound (NZ)
Reflections on HMAS Australia and Sydney at Gallipoli – 1936
As April 25 approaches, it is fitting to remember that it is just on 60 years since Gallipoli was visited by HMA Ships Australia and Sydney II. I was a midshipman ...
Letters: Commander Wojciech Francki
Thank you very much indeed for your letter and a copy of the “Naval Historical Review”. I found the interview with Commander Wojciech Francki (the spelling of his name is ...