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

Biographies and personal histories

The Rescue Yacht

Taylor, Lieutenant F RNZNVR · Oct 30, 1977 ·

HMAS PERTH AND USS HOUSTON were sunk in the very early hours of 1st March 1942, after a terrific fight against overwhelming odds. Many of the Perth survivors were picked ...

An Australian with Jellicoe (1919)

Ricketts, D C · Jun 25, 1977 ·

In 1919, Admiral of the Fleet, Viscount, later Earl, John Jellicoe, visited Australia, travelling in the battle cruiser New Zealand, and toured the capital cities. AT THAT TIME, CONSIDERATION was ...

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The Life and Naval Career of Vice Admiral Sir Hugh David Stevenson, AC, KBE.

Birch, Albert · Jun 25, 1977 ·

HUGH DAVID STEVENSON was born in The Valley, a suburb of Brisbane on 24th August 1918 to the Reverend William Henry and Katherine Stevenson. His father was the Rector of ...

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The Legend of Arnold Green

Payne, Alan · Mar 19, 1977 ·

The late Commander Arnold Holbrook Green, O.B.E., D.S.C. and Bar, R.A.N. became a legend in the Royal Australian Navy in his own lifetime. During the war a British Admiral informed ...

Alan Payne – Naval Constructor Supreme

Payne, Alan · Mar 30, 1976 ·

A naval constructor may at first glance appear an odd subject for biography but there was nothing odd about Britain’s greatest builder of modern ships, Stephen Payne. This is the ...

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The Entire Convoy was Sunk

Collins, R.A.C., Able Seaman, RAN · Dec 31, 1975 ·

Able Seaman Bob Collins was captured in March 1942 after the sinking of HMAS Perth and USS Houston at the Battle of Sunda Strait. After working on the Burma-Siam Railway, Collins ...

Captain A.S. Rosenthal DSO and Bar, OBE, RAN

Parker, R.G., OBE, Captain, RAN (Rtd) · Dec 31, 1975 ·

ALVORD SYDNEY ROSENTHAL was born in Sydney on 16th January 1901. He came from a distinguished military family, being the younger son of Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, a Divisional Commander ...

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HMAS Perth Loses her Walrus

Bowden, D.M., PO (Telegraphist), RAN · Dec 31, 1975 ·

SHORTLY AFTER HER ARRIVAL in Alexandria, HMAS Perth was ordered to Suda Bay in Crete, to detach the A/C for land-based operations. She arrived in that port on 1st January ...

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Honorary Commodore – Captain A. V. Knight

Swan, W.M., Lietutenant Commander, RAN · Jun 30, 1975 ·

This biography of Australia’s most distinguished Reserve Officer is told by his former First Lieutenant. Captain A. V. Knight, OBE, DSC, RD, US Legion of Merit RANR(S) Rtd, served with ...

Surrender of Yokosuka Naval Base

Pacini, John · Mar 31, 1975 ·

John Pacini was one of a team of war correspondents who covered the Japanese surrender. He took passage on HMAS Napier for the last important mission in the Pacific war. ...

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Normandy Landing

Smythe, D.H.D., AO, Commodore, RAN · Mar 30, 1975 ·

For five days in June 1944, a young Australian Naval Lieutenant who was serving on exchange duty as the Gunnery Control Officer in a British cruiser kept a diary. Those ...

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A Naval Encounter – Captain Trevor Wilson Ross

Ross, Trevor Wilson, OBE, Captain, RAN · Mar 30, 1975 ·

Captain Ross’ career with the Royal Australian Navy spanned a period of 38 years – from the torpedo boat destroyer to the jet operating aircraft carrier. He joined the RAN ...

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This Man Howden – Captain Harry L. Howden, CBE, RAN

Scrivner, R. · Dec 31, 1974 ·

No member of the Royal Australian Navy who served in wartime could show as much appreciation of their captain as did the crew, officers and ratings of the three Amphion ...

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The Ship’s Bugler – Ordinary Seaman A. Gee

Holmes, L.F. · Sep 30, 1974 ·

In previous editions of Naval Historical Review biographies of admirals, captains and distinguished officers have been featured. This biography is of a captain’s bugler, Ordinary Seaman Alan Gee, who served ...

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Admiral Sir Harry Rawson GCB, GCMG.

Lind, L.J. · Mar 31, 1974 ·

The Happy Warrior Admiral Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson, GCB, GCMG, Grand Cross of Military Order of Portugal, Brilliant Star of Zanzibar, Order of Hamondieh and Osmanieh and Civic Cross of ...

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Lower Deck Memories – 1908-1911

Blakeney, L.H. · Dec 31, 1973 ·

Mr. Blakeney wrote these memoirs at the age of 83. He served in the Navy for 49 years, commencing as a cadet in 1906 and ending as captain of the ...

Captain Joseph Burnett RAN

Burnett, Cdr. P.R. RAN (Ret.) · Dec 31, 1973 ·

Captain Joseph Burnett was a product of an era in the Royal Australian Navy which is now legendary. A first entry to the Royal Australian Naval College, he obtained colours ...

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Captain H. M. L. Waller DSO and BAR, RAN

Owen, Commander P.O.L. · Aug 31, 1972 ·

‘Hector Macdonald Laws Waller will always remain in my mind as one of the very finest types of Australian Naval Officer. Full of good cheer, a great sense of humour, ...

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Admiral Dumaresq-A Son of Australia

Cousins, Edna · Jan 31, 1972 ·

SYDNEY CAN CLAIM with a great deal of pride that it is the birthplace of a man who has made not only Australian, but Commonwealth Naval History. In the harbourside ...

Admiral John Paul Jones and the ships that honoured him

Lind, L.J. · Dec 31, 1971 ·

`I have not yet begun to fight’ John Paul, for that was his baptismal name, was born at Arbigland, Kirkcudbright, Scotland on July 6th 1747. He went to sea as ...

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