The log is a device for measuring a ship’s speed through the water. An early log, said to have been invented about 1620, consisted of a float or chip designed ...
Publications
Letters – Great Sea Battles
The list of Great Sea Battles of History published in the December, 1988 issue of the “Review” has omitted what must surely figure as one of England’s most memorable naval engagements. ...
Tokyo Bay – 1945
With the surrender signed and whilst waiting for the first run ashore, a half dozen or so sailors from the Australian cruiser Shropshire (including myself) were granted permission to take out ...
Chivalry and Courtesy in war and when most unexpected!
In the sea action on 9 November, 1914 off Cocos Islands in the Indian Ocean, between the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney and the German cruiser SMS Emden, a kindly gesture ...
HMAS Sydney-SMS Emden Action at Cocos Islands 1914 – A German Survivor’s Account
The Loss of the SS Ceramic – December 1942
The First Battle of Savo Island 8/9 August 1942 – A Correction to the History
The Battle of the Coral Sea Remembrance service – May 1989
The old “Aussie” hands gave three cheers to honour Mrs Francomb and her late husband Rear Admiral H.B. Farncomb, C.B., D.S.O., U.S. Navy Cross. ...
Morale in the Royal Australian Navy
Letters – Censorship
Diary of John Ernest James – Part 2
Written whilst serving in HMAS Sydney II This is the second instalment of the diaries of John Ernest James. He was in the Mediterranean Sea in HMAS Sydney and took ...
HMAS Canberra and HMAS Shropshire Honoured
On the 4th April, 1989,a delightful ceremony took place in the precincts of the Naval Museum on Garden Island, Sydney, in the presentation of much treasured naval memorabilia. Firstly, a beautiful coloured ...
The Salvage of the USS New Orleans – 1942
Ships arrive off Sydney Heads under steam, under sail, under tow and even underwater in the case of submarines. But one ship arrived backwards! Amid dramatic circumstances, it was ...
The WW1 Troopship SS Suevic – A Short History
The above interesting photo of the troopship S.S. SUEVIC, which appears to have been taken in SydneyHarbour, was held by George Hancock, formerly of SydneyHigh School and who was probably ...
Armstrong, J M – Naval Wartime Hero (Part 2)
HMAS Swan and the Dampier Memorial – 1938
After the September Crisis HMAS SWAN, which had been in Western Australia at the Crisis, was ordered by the Naval Board to proceed to Broome to unveil a memorial to ...
Book Review: The Naval Steam Reciprocating Engine
Title: The Naval Steam Reciprocating Engine Author: Norman Rivett Published by: Naval Historical Society of Australia Card No. ISBN 09587 456 0 9 The Naval Historical Society of Australia is to ...
RAN Ships Routines – effective 1934
Diary of John Ernest James – Part 1
Written whilst serving in HMAS Sydney II John Ernest James was born at Gateshead England, and came to Australia with his family in 1928. He joined the RAN when he ...
HMAS Westralia – A brief summary of WW2 Service
Armstrong, J M – Naval Wartime Hero (Part 1)
The Blackout at Sea
The War of Words
Few things bugged wartime Australians more than censorship. When it came to news from the far-flung battlefronts where Australians in thousands were involved in the fighting, the lack of knowledge ...
