RAN serviceman, naval artist, writer. Born Sydney, February 18, 1908. Died Padstow, July 26, 1996, aged 88. In 1913, when he was five years old, John Bastock perched on his ...
Biographies and personal histories
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 ...
Letters – First Australian life lost in a Naval action in WWII
I have been assisting author Dennis Newton (“A Few of the Few” about Australians involved in the Battle of Britain) with research for his next book,” First Impact”, and seek members advice.” First ...
Obituary: Lewis James Lind 1922-1994
Port Adelaide – Memories 1924
Biography of Lieutenant Commander R.W. Rankin RAN, and the loss of HMAS Yarra
Obituary: Lieutenant C.L.M (Jack) Shepperd, MBE DSM
Anybody who served in HMAS NIRIMBA between 1956 and its closure in 1994 would have known Jack Shepperd. He died on Wednesday, 17th August, 1994 aged 86. Apart from family ...
Captain Frank Edmund Getting, RAN – 1899-1942
Book Review: Blue Watch, All the Blue Watch
“Blue Watch, All the Blue Watch” By John Allerton I have not read the “1st Impression” of John Allerton’s book but this “2nd Impression” of this record of his service ...
Book Review: The Quay to the Sea
By Captain Surtees M. Rothery The story begins with the author as a young lad growing up in the Vaucluse area of Sydney in the 1920s. Captain Rothery paints a ...
Obituary: Rear-Admiral W D H Graham, CBE
Rear Admiral William D.H. Graham born on 3rd September, 1916 in Queensland, died on 30th August, 1993 after a long illness, in A.C.T. He had a distinguished career in the ...
McConnochie – History of a Family’s RN Service 1845-1980
I recently gave custody of the Service Documents of my paternal great grandfather, grandfather, maternal grandfather and father, to the Naval Historical Society so that interested persons could view them ...
Obituary: LT. CDR. Palgrave Ebden Carr, D.F.C., RAN (Rtd.)
Whilst documentation of our Naval history regarding ships and battles is well covered in our Naval Historical Review, these battles could not have been won or lost without the brave ...