Banjo Paterson, the Australian poet, once deserted his dusty sunlit plains to write a poem of the navy. The subject he chose was the saga of HMS Calliope at Apia ...
Naval history
The Pusser’s Bus
The Seagull V amphibian or Walrus or Pusser’s Bus was the best known aircraft of the Royal Australian Navy in World War Two. Carried by all cruisers this ubiquitous aircraft ...
The 1929 Cruise of Albatross
With the Ns in Japanese Waters
HMAS Quickmatch Takes a Prize
This article, which was originally published in 1944 in the ship’s magazine, tells the story of the destroyer’s first operation in the Atlantic in late 1942. QUICKMATCH ENTERED THE WAR ...
A Century of Japanese Intelligence – Part 1
HMAS Parramatta: First Born of The Commonwealth Navy
The Ship’s Bugler – Ordinary Seaman A. Gee
The Blazing Trail – poem
‘Twas on the gallant Quickmatch With crew two hundred bold, To “Dusty” Rhodes the Captain, They were like sheep in fold. The men comprised of fighters, Their homes the Empire ...
Australian Naval Aviation – Part 4
HMAS Encounter finds the Raider Seeadler
The story of the raider Seeadler has been told many times yet still thrills all who read of her audacity. In this article the disarming of the raider’s gutted hulk ...
Antique Cannon at Garden Island
THE 12 CANNON in the Garden Island Collection cover a period of almost four centuries. The earliest, two brass Portuguese pieces believed to have been cast in Spain in the ...
The Loss of HMS Auckland
‘At 6.28 p.m. she rolled over and sank.’ L J. Brien was serving in HMAS Vendetta at the time of the loss of this fine ship. The Vs and Ws ...
Book Review: Australian Naval Administration 1900-1939
Author – Robert Hyslop It is fitting that the two most important works on the organisation and administration of the Royal Australian Navy should be written by a Secretary and ...
Au revoir – poem
A poetical tribute to Lieutenant Commander R. (Dusty) Rhodes DSC, RAN, on his relinquishing command of HMAS Quickmatch in 1944. Now Cobbers, fellow shipmates, The time is drawing near When we shall lose that gallant man, ...
Australian Naval Aviation – Part 3
Admiral Sir Harry Rawson GCB, GCMG.
AUSTRALIA Sinks the Elenore Woerman
WHEN THE NEW BRITAIN – NEW GUINEA CAMPAIGN drew to a close HMAS Australia was ordered to the Atlantic. The route selected was east across the Pacific, and so the ...
British Pacific Fleet Memorial
THREE HUNDRED MEMBERS and guests witnessed the unveiling of the British Pacific Fleet Memorial at Naval Headquarters, Potts Point, Sydney, on Sunday 2nd December 1973. Rear Admiral G.D. Moore, CBE, ...
His Majesty’s Ship Papua
HMS Papua is one of the lesser known vessels of the Royal Navy. Her active life covered a period of less than one year and her greatest claim to fame ...
Out of the Past – pictorial
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Lower Deck Memories – 1908-1911
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 ...
The Four Lives of HMS Wexford
MOST WARSHIPS have inbuilt lasting qualities. HMS Victory has weathered almost two centuries, and several United States ships of war are almost as venerable. HMS Wexford, a later Hunt class ...
Australian Naval Aviation – Part 2
Farewell to Old Sydney Forever
ALTHOUGH HER DAYS WERE NUMBERED, the shock announcement on July 20th ‘The transport HMAS Sydney is to be paid off. She will be withdrawn from the Australian Fleet and will ...