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In 1947, a bunch of 13-year boys set out on a road to great things
By John Martin
Volume 50, No. 14, August 09, 2007 |
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| FUTURE HIGH ACHIEVERS: (This photo includes six 17-year-old old Special Entry Cadets who can be identified as the outer figures, left and right, in the second top row). The 13-year-olds were - Top Row. Michael Rayment, Peter Sharp, Michael Varley, Michael Hudson, Keith Callins, John Waller, Charles Barton, David Martin; Second top row: Eric Johnston, Phillip Crawford; Second bottom row: Richard Arundel, Bruce Lee, Graham Roberts, George Halley, LEUT Cartwright, CMDR Plunkett-Cole, Peter James, Ronald Osborn, Ron Collett, Alun Evans. Bottom row: Brian Read, Ian Knox, Scott Griffith, John Ednie-Brown, Robert Scobie and Michael Seale. |
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When a bunch of 13-year-old boys were thrown together at the RAN College in 1947, no one could have predicted that so many of the group would go on to such illustrious careers.
The boys, who came from far-flung parts of Australia, were from disparate backgrounds. Some came from working class families, some from executive class backgrounds.
But there was a common denominator: a will to succeed which is detailed in a new book, Flinders Year 1947: the stories of twenty four boys who joined the Royal Australian Navy (Drawprint Printing 2007, Marayong, NSW).
Many of the 24, who came together at the Australian Naval College which was then based at HMAS Cerberus, had long and distinguished careers in the navy and others contributed significantly in civilian life.
There was one admiral who was Chief of the Navy, one vice admiral who was Vice Chief of the Defence Force, one rear admiral and three commodores. Many served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation, and the Far East Strategic Reserve.
Two commanded the Australian Fleet and three commanded the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, many commanded other ships and shore establishments.
Post-naval careers produced a Governor of NSW (Rear Admiral Sir David Martin), an Administrator of the Northern Territory (Commodore Eric Johnston), a noted naval scientist, a doctor of theology and achievers in business, the arts and other areas of endeavour.
The book was launched at the RAN Heritage Centre at Garden Island Dockyard on July 20 by the Governor of NSW, Professor Marie Bashir.
Guests included 10 of the original class members and four of their colleagues’ widows. Most live in and around Sydney but one, John Waller, came to the launch from his home in the United States.
Each surviving member, and the widows and families of the eight deceased members, have contributed a chapter on their lives. The book comprises 271 pages with about 150 photos embedded in the text.
As part of before-, during- and after-accounts, they tell how the RAN grew up during their tenure.
One of the old boys, VADM (rtd) Ian Knox said many members of the group and their wives still get together regularly. He said the book had its genesis about a year ago when they decided they had a story to tell.
Most of the boys, he said, had completed the first year of high school when they entered the college.
For the next four years they were cloistered together and grew close despite their very diverse characters.
The book is available from the Naval Historical Society, Garden Island, Sydney and from the publisher, www.drawquick.com.au |
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