As the old story goes – Dead men tell no tales. However, well maintained archives and records do. This is the story of the search, discovery and eventual refurbishment of ...
Biographies and personal histories
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 ...
Australians in the Royal Naval Air Service 1914-1918 (Part 2a)
Submarine Sinks Battleship – Holbrook VC
Obituary: Rear Admiral Bryn Mussared (1917-1995)
Rear Admiral Bryn Mussared was born in 1917 in Semaphore SA, and entered the Navy in 1932. On passing out from the Naval College, he was awarded ‘maximum time’ and the ...
Obituary: Commander Arthur Stanley Storey (1909 – 1995)
Krait-Operation Jaywick: Diary of Leading Telegraphist Young
From the Diary Of Leading Telegraphist H. S. Young RANR; written while serving aboard M. V Krait during Operation Jaywick – 1943. © H.S. Young 1/9/43 Tail-shaft broke went alongside ...
Commander Wojceich Franki – Polish Navy (Rtd)
Spectrum of Command -RANVR, RANR(S) and RAN
*The first became Australia’s Minister for Defence. * The second piloted 8463 ships of the world through our major ports to set a record that probably never will be eclipsed. ...
Trincamalee Harbour Incident – 1944
The British Fleet that lay at anchor in the harbour at Trincamalee consisted of five battleships, two squadrons of cruisers, four aircraft carriers and two flotillas of destroyers, all peacefully ...