- Author
- Editorial Staff
- Subjects
- None noted
- Tags
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- RAN Ships
- HMAS Creswell
- Publication
- June 2023 edition of the Naval Historical Review (all rights reserved)
In 1985 the Naval Historical Society (NHS) first donated an essay prize to the college. The prize consisted of a one-year subscription to the Society and a six-volume bound collection of the NHS books Ships of the Royal Australian Navy. The winner was MIDN Jon Blake. In 1986, with the opening of the Australian Defence Force Academy, major changes occurred in training at HMAS Creswell. This resulted in the NHS prize being awarded for the best researched assignment during Junior Officers Common Training, and again MIDN Blake was the winner. Since then the prize has been awarded every year, either for the best results in the history module or for the best history assignment.
The aim of the donation of a prize to New Entry Officers over the past 38 years has been to encourage them to engage in historical research and so connect to the rich history of the RAN and the lessons and inspiration this provides. Unfortunately, with further changes to the training syllabus at Creswell the naval history module is being replaced by a new program, which does not include a history essay, and so the Naval Historical Society history prize has been withdrawn. However, we trust that our association with the College continues and that we may be able to provide some further service in the field of historical research.
Amongst many essays received some stand out, including Admiral Karl Doenitz and his Leadershipby MIDN A.R.N. Hume RAN published in March 2006 and reproduced as a Navy History Podcast. It is noteworthy that another recent essay, Rising Tensions in the Indo Pacific by SBLT Jemima Schortz and published in the June 2022 Review was reproduced in the Australian Naval Institute Newsletter No 422 dated 26 February 2023.
Retired officers selected to award the history prizes were immensely proud of this honour and enjoyed visiting the RANC at Creswell and being able to again mix with a future generation of young naval officers.
And so welcome to the final NEOC essay, Irregular Warfare in the RAN by MIDN C.A.F. Cumberlidge RAN.