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You are here: Home / Archives for Article topics / Naval history / Biographies and personal histories

Biographies and personal histories

Commodore J.M. Armstrong, CBE, DSO, RAN 1900-1988

Armstrong, David, Professor · Dec 27, 1988 ·

Read at the funeral service at St. Brelade’s Church, Jersey, January 6th, 1989 by Michael Marett- Crosby. JOHN MALET ARMSTRONG, Jamie to his wife and friends, was born in Sydney, ...

Rear Admiral Farncomb

Zammitt, Alan · Sep 27, 1988 ·

BETWEEN MAY 4 AND MAY 8 1942 the battle of the Coral Sea took place. The Coral Sea Battle was just one of the many highlights of the Naval career ...

The Cruiser Choir

A.N. Other · Jun 27, 1988 ·

Anon AT THE OUTBREAK OF WAR I was organist and choir master at St Andrews Church, Wahroonga. I mention this fact because it has a bearing on the short story ...

Sons of the Sea – 1947 RAN College Entry

Zammitt, Alan · Jun 27, 1988 ·

PRIOR TO 1956 Cadet-Midshipmen entered the RAN College in January after reaching thirteen years of age. Late in 1946 six hundred thirteen year old candidates went before a Naval Selection ...

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Man Overboard! Warramunga Saga

Whyte,Sam · Dec 13, 1987 ·

A DREADED CRY, which all sailors hope and trust that they never hear. However it does happen and when it does, all crew members try their hardest to help and ...

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HMAS Swan (Sloop) 1937-38

Mesley, Rear Admiral J.S., CBE, MVO, DSC · Sep 13, 1987 ·

I HAVE BEEN ASKED to prepare a short history of HMAS Swan during the period in which I served in her during her first commission from 21st January 1937, until ...

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Perth Survivor story

Bee, W.A. ("Buzzer") · Sep 11, 1987 ·

‘AND THE DAWN CAME UP LIKE THUNDER out of Java across the Bay’. These few words echoing an amended version of the famous song ‘On the Road to Mandalay’, seemed ...

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Lost Letter Throws New Light on Sydney-Emden Action

Bywater, G (Naval Archives) · Jun 11, 1987 ·

Locating the Letter: As part of a general clean up and rationalisation of cabinets belonging to the Naval Historian, the Navy Archives staff dug through a number of filing cabinets ...

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Wartime Submarine Service

Piggott, Lieut. Cdr. F.M., RD, MNI, RNR. Rtd., · Mar 11, 1987 ·

Recollections of Lieut. Cdr. Piggott of his wartime service in submarines. PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II and general hostilities I had been serving as an officer in the Merchant Service ...

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HMAS Perth POW – Moji Maru Incident

Bee, W.A. ("Buzzer") · Mar 11, 1987 ·

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TWO MONTHS since our group arrived in Singapore from Java when the news was received that we were on the move again. Although rumours were strong ...

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Perth and the Aftermath

Noble, SBA A.M. · Jun 9, 1986 ·

SBA Noble joined HMAS Perth three months before she sunk. His story is simple and frank but reflects the hardships suffered by her survivors. For his work in attending the ...

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Turkish Treatment of British Naval Prisoners

Trimmer, L.S. Henry · Dec 9, 1984 ·

Little has been written on the treatment of naval prisoners in Turkish prisoner of war camps in World War I. Although this report was written by a Royal Navy sailor ...

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Ruby Boye – Coastwatcher Heroine

Zammitt, Alan · Sep 9, 1984 ·

MRS. RUBY BOYE-JONES lived with her husband, Mr. Skov Boye, at Vanikoro, a small tropical island in the Santa Cruz group of the then British Solomon Islands Protectorate at the ...

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HMAS Manoora Enters the Pacific War

Chatto, A.K. · Jun 23, 1984 ·

Extracts from the War Diary of former member, the late A.K. Chatto HMAS MANOORA sailed from Sydney at 1800 Saturday, November 22 1941. After clearing the swept channel we took ...

Memories of HMS Renown

Rettie, Alexander · Jun 21, 1984 ·

I actually joined the ship at the age of 16 years, as a boy rating. My early experience with the RENOWN was during the 1914-18 war. Much of our time ...

Queer Jobs

Oliver, Cdr (E) H.G.D. , RAN · Mar 9, 1984 ·

The last story I wrote for a magazine was about a punitive expedition in HMAS Adelaide to Malaita in 1927, after a bold, bad black, blighter called Bassiana had murdered Mr ...

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Gunboats on the Yangtse: 1920 to 1937

Taylor, R.A. CPO, RN · Mar 6, 1984 ·

A transcript of an address presented to The Naval Historical Society of Australia by CPO R.A. Taylor, RN. TO DESCRIBE CHINA in any form of speech, with all its complexities ...

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Obituary: Harry Adlam

Zammitt, Alan · Jun 20, 1983 ·

HAROLD CHARLES (HARRY) ADLAM grew up in Penshurst, Sydney. Economics dictated that he leave school at the age of 14. However, he educated himself and ended up with a better ...

The Loss of HMS Dorsetshire

Creasy,John · Jun 6, 1983 ·

This vivid eyewitness account of the sinking of the 8-inch cruiser, HMS Dorsetshire by Japanese bombers in 1942 was extracted from a war-time booklet published to raise funds for building ...

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We Did It Better In My Day

Collins, Vice Admiral Sir John · Dec 5, 1982 ·

Old timers are quite critical of the modern generation, and particularly in service matters. Whenever we see a parade or a ceremonial, we always seem to compare the show with ...

Bastock, John – Naval Artist & Writer

A.N. Other · Dec 3, 1982 ·

WHEN ONE ENTERS THE WARDROOM of the FFG HMAS Adelaide the first object to catch one’s eye is a fine painting of the cruiser Adelaide in 1944 in her wartime ...

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I’m Jesus, the Canteen Manager (Part 6-Conclusion )

Zammitt, Alan · Oct 25, 1982 ·

ON 21ST OCTOBER, six Sea Furies attacked the suspected invasion junks, sinking 7 and damaging 15. Two Sea Furies were detailed to assist HMAS Murchison negotiate shallow water hazards which ...

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Family Saga -The Westons & The Johnstons – 1764 Onwards

Weston, Bert E. · Jun 30, 1982 ·

FROM TIME TO TIME the Naval Historical Review has featured the biography of some officer, living or dead, who had reached high rank and was noted for his service in ...

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I’m Jesus, the Canteen Manager (Part 5)

Zammitt, Alan · Jun 25, 1982 ·

CROSSING THE BAY OF BISCAY Sydney ran into bad weather, losing the starboard lower boom, and the canopies of the starboard motor boats being stove in. In the Mediterranean we ...

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I’m Jesus, the Canteen Manager (Part 4)

Zammitt, Alan · Mar 25, 1982 ·

THE KANIMBLA SAILED from Devonport on September 9th, called at Gibraltar, and arrived at Genoa, Italy, to embark displaced persons who were being brought to Australia to make a new ...

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