Features
Bringing history alive
By LSPH Yuri Ramsey

Volume 50, No.2, February 22, 2007
 
BOOK WORM: John Perryman, from the Naval History Section, going through some of the collection he has helped put together. He was recently commended for his work.
Photo: LSPH Yuri Ramsey
 
Improvements to the collection, cataloguing and preservation of Navy’s historical heritage, has resulted in a commendation for the Navy’s senior historical officer, John Perryman.

Mr Perryman has implemented a wide-ranging and highly successful series of changes to the way Navy’s historical information is managed.

“It’s very important to make sure that the collection is kept in good shape, so tomorrow’s generation have got it to look back on,” he said.

Among the changes was a move to digitize photographs and documents.
“We introduced a lot of initiatives to bring the historical collection into the 21st century,” he said “We have taken those first steps successfully.”

This will further the life of historic documents, and make the information more widely available.

Mr Perryman took up the position in 2004 after a good career in the Navy, beginning in 1980 as a junior recruit and reaching the rank of Warrant Officer Yeoman.

He later obtained his commission. He served in areas such as Somalia, Bougainville and East Timor.

“All of that put me in good stead to apply successfully for this position,” he said. “And as naval history had always been of great interest to me, this job is essentially my cup of tea.”

The Navy History Section looks after all enquiries regarding naval history, from both the public and Navy departments.

The section is regularly involved in answering correspondence concerning the loss of, and search for, the WWII cruiser HMAS Sydney, and was also very much involved with planning the search for the grave of Sydney’s unknown sailor on Christmas Island.

Biannually the Naval History Section hosts the King Hall naval history conference. This year’s conference will look at “Naval Networks: The Dominance of Communications in Maritime Operations”.

Mr Perryman was awarded his commendation by DCN, RADM Russell Crane.