An article by Greg Swinden appeared in the June 2017 edition of this magazine outlining the story of Commander Frederick Darley RN who played a significant part in the establishment ...
History - post WWII
Occasional Paper 88: Gulf War: Logistics Support for RAN Ships Operation Damask: 1990-1991
By David Michael This paper addresses the key aspects of; preparation, deployment and support for RAN units deployed for Operation Damask between August 1990 and March 1991. During this period ...
Occasional Paper 84: Operation Musketeer – the 1956 Suez Crisis, RAN Members’ Involvement
This paper was written by Society volunteer, Commander Martin Linsley RAN Rtd. Its genesis was a list of the RAN participants in the Suez Crisis compiled by Mike Fogarty a ...
Luzon: A 75th Anniversary Australian Battlefield Tour of the Philippines – Part 2
By Paul Baker On the morning of 15 December 2019, a small ceremony was held at the Australian War Memorial in the forecourt of the Maritime Academy of Asia and ...
Appear where you are not expected
By Lieutenant Commander Chris Watson RAN1 This essay won the Smith Prize, which is open to all members of the Department of Defence in the Chief of Navy’s 2019 Essay ...
Occasional Paper 49: The Good Times and The Bad Times
April 2019 The following paper describes the experiences of a young Royal Navy conscript, Gordon Cansdale who served in the Fleet Air Arm from 1945 to 1947. Gordon describes the ...
Book Review: Cold War and Decolonisation: Australia’s policy towards Britain’s end of empire in Southeast Asia
Cold War and Decolonisation: Australia’s policy towards Britain’s end of empire in Southeast Asia, by Andrea Benvenuti, National University of Singapore Press, Singapore, 2017, paperback, 279 pp., available Asia Book Room, ...
Occasional Paper 30: HMAS Hobart
Several events concerning the three HMA Ships Hobart come together with a memorial and commemoration service at the Garden Island Chapel on Sunday 22nd July starting at 10.00am. HMAS Hobart ...
Book Review: John Jess, Seeker of Justice
By Elizabeth McCarthy. Sid Harta Publishers, Melbourne, 2015. Paperback 320 pages. RRP $29.95 but discounts available. This book, published in August 2015, was written by a daughter of John Jess ...
HMAS Moreton and Brisbane Naval Depots
By George Franki The name Moreton is synonymous with naval history in southeast Queensland but to date little mention of it appears in our historical records. We trust this small ...
Book Review: Not a Real War – A Sailor’s Experiences in a Soldier’s War
Not a Real War – A Sailor’s Experiences in a Soldier’s War by Paul Longley. Published by Book Pal, Brisbane, 2015. Paperback, 224 pages with b & w photos. Available ...
Operation Praying Mantis
By Scott Dalton Scott Dalton is enrolled in an external studies program for a Master of Arts in military history through the University of New South Wales ADFA campus. The ...
Book Review: Vietnam The Complete Story of the Australian War
Vietnam: The Complete Story of the Australian War. By Bruce Davies with Gary McKay. Published by Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 2012. Hardback, 690 pages with photographs. rrp $55. ‘You ...
HMAS Wyatt Earp
Number 1 RAN Pilots Course in Korea
By Fred Lane The story of the RAN’s first pilots course in Korea starts with a workup that began in earnest in late April 1951. The 21st Carrier Air Group ...
The Melbourne/Voyager Collision – Untold Story
Minesweeping after WW2 – Loss of Warrnambool
Letters: Canal Zone clasp 1951/2
You may not be aware that some time ago the British Government approved the award of the above medal to naval personnel who served in the Suez Canal Zone in ...
HMAS Watson’s Freedom of Entry Marks Sixty Years of Service
The premier naval training establishment celebrated its 60th anniversary since commissioning at Sydney’s prominent South Head. The ship’s company of HMAS Watson (Captain Ian Middleton, RAN) marched through Double Bay, ...
Middle East Patrol (HMS Mermaid)
HMAS Hawkesbury and Singapore POWs return
With the unveiling by CDF General Cosgrove at Ballarat on 6 February 2004 of the memorial dedicated to 35,000 Australians who became prisoners-of-war in all conflicts, journalist and Navy veteran ...
Book Review: Dark Victory
Dark Victory By David Marr and Marian Wilkinson Allen and Unwin: Sydney, 2003 Pp 350. Price $29.95 pb Reviewed by Tigger Wise One man’s singleminded determination to preserve the integrity ...
Book Review: HMAS Murchison
Title: HMAS Murchison – Baron of the Han Author: Robert E Capes Publisher: Naval Historical Society of Australia (Inc) [Ed: The Society recently published this book] This book was written ...
Book Review: No Picnic
Title: No Picnic – An Account of the 1982 Falklands War by Author: Royal Marine Maj Gen Julian Thompson Publisher: Cassell. ISBN: 0-304-35647-6 This book, a revised edition of a ...
Malaya – Permission to open fire
During the Confrontation period 1963-67 there were often little incidents which came to light from the very different experiences enjoyed by the many vessels from several navies who participated. This ...