The Navy Vol_64_Part2 2002 - Navy League of Australia

PRODUCT REVIEWThe Magnificent 9th -An Illustrated History of the9th Australian Division 1940 - 46By Mark JohnstonAllen & Unwin Books 201)2Hani Cover. 272 pages IllustratedReview ed by Paul D. Johnstone•k.-TV \AN II.U StKA l'KI>IIIMIIIV Ol llll VihAl iiKAI.IANDIVISIONI 'MII-4M A K k 1 1 ' 1 l \ ' S I I ) \A key to the success of this book is stated within theintroduction when the author remarks how the opportunity toconduct thorough research for this topic will never again beable to be undertaken with the passing of so many who werethe 9th Division. This includes the ability to express and shareas an eyewitness accounting the hazards and challenges of theWestern Desert, the Jungles of South East Asia and NewGuinea.The many oral histories, as well as the generousinclusion of private collections of photographs, contributewidely to the success of this book. 1 for one enjoyed howpersonal experiences were so well blended with thechronological journey of the raising of the 9th Division in1940 and its subsequent adventures until its disbandmentin 1946.The book has excellent coverage of the 9th's exploits inboth maps and photographs. Many of the wide variety of thephotographs are from private collections and differ greatlyfrom those so often repeatedly exhibited in many otherpublications. Perhaps the only downside is that eachillustration does not have a caption beneath it to assist withmore readily identifying the finer details of the photograph ormap rather than the bold cross - reference to the photographsduring the prose. The author's research is most thorough inthat he actually points out many of the staged photographs thatwere constructed for prop-aganda purposes by "Chets Circus"a British photographic unit whose role was to reconstructbattle scenes.Insight and detail is provided into many of the experiencesand attitudes that prevailed in the 9th Division during thisperiod. One constant within the book is how poorly armed, illequipped and unprepared these men were for the enormouschallenges laid down before them. Clearly demonstrated is theAIF's ability to scrounge, make do and improvise under someof the most hostile and worst conditions, often channellingwit. courage and humour into a quest for survival andultimately a significant contribution to military victory in thedarkest hours of the Second World War. The Magnificent 9th- An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Division 1940 -46. is a well researched, well written and well illustratedinformative history and is highly recommended reading.Mutiny on the Globe:The Fatal Voyage of SamuelComstockBy Thomas Fare!BloomsburyHeffernanPublishingSoftcover. 280 pages$ 29.95Reviewed by Doug Steele.I'll be honest. When 1 was first handed a copy of this book andread the description on the back cover - 'a fascinating event inNantucket's whaling history' - I thought it looked a bit dulland obscure. Nonetheless. I gave it a go and I'm glad that Idid. I was immediately drawn into a story that is part MobyDick, part Robi.ison Crusoe, and part Mutiny on the Bounty,but what made it all the more engaging is that it is historicalfact. For me. history is at its most fascinating when itdemonstrates how fact can be stranger than fiction.In Mutiny on the Globe Heffernan tells the story of SamuelComstock. a young man from 'rugged stock' who was eerilyinsensitive to physical pain, seemingly incapable of emotion,a risk taker, a liar, a womaniser who became obsessed with theidea of 'native nymphs', and most of all. a buddingpsychopath. In a scenario reminiscent of Francis FordCoppola's Colonel Kurtz' in Apocalypse Now. Samuel wasobsessed by the idea of living the rest of his life as the onlywhite man among natives of a Pacific island. Samuel believedhe would quickly be elected King, and "once in power hewould make the island a pirate kingdom, launching a nativenavy that would capture everything in sight. His exploitswould turn him into a fable; he would gain immortality as theterror of the South Seas." The plan devised by Samuel wentlike this: join a whaling ship, sail for the Pacific, kill theCaptain and officers, take it over, land at an island inhabitedby savages, murder the rest of the crew, become king, and turnthe natives into a private army. Simple.Heffernan does a good job of tracing the influences onSamuel and his formulation of the idea. He then describes inquite gory detail how Samuel goes about conducting themutiny, including how the Captain, officers and noncooperativecrewmembers all met extremely violent deaths.The mutineer's use of oversized whaling tools to do the jobis, to say the least, horrifyingly innovative.Having reached the pivotal point in Samuel's grand planfor realising his 'destiny', the remainder of the story followsthe consequences for Samuel and the remaining crew.Needless to say. this is where things went awry. Havingreached the Mili Atoll in the Marshall Islands, the mendiscover that the natives' temperament is quite different toSamuel's romantic conception. All but two are killed, and thesurvivors are kept as a mixture between a slave and a pet untila daring rescue almost two years later.Heffernan's treatment of the wider historical context inwhich the events took place is an intriguing aspect of thisbook. This was a time when growing up in New York wasunimaginably miserable; stagnant and squalid, with anightmarish fire hazard and no reliable water supply. I foundit interesting how Manhattan had an inland lake that had to bedrained and filled when effluents, rubbish, and the dumpingof dead animals had irreversibly polluted it (while Broadway,on the other hand, was lined by poplars and four-storyhomes). It was a time when harsh reality forced youth tomature quickly: as his Schoolmaster prepared to give Samuel- aged six - the equivalent of the cane as punishment formisbehaving, Samuel defiantly warned him "Ah! FriendMark, it will be of no use; father has used up a whole poplartree on me. already; but to no purpose." And it was also a timewhen the Pacific was viewed with the same sense ofimmensity, adventurism, mystery, awe and inherent dangerthat we now ascribe to the depths of space. Of course, prolificstories nbout remote islands populated by 'vivacious nativegirls' who swam out to meet ships clothed only with 'a largegreen leaf' that was 'generally lost by swimming any lengthof the way' only served to fan the flames in many a youngmai.'s mind.In the end the psychopathology of Samuel Comstockovershadows everything else in the Globe story. Describingthis book as 'a fascinating event in Nantucket's whalinghistory' simply does not do it justice. Heffernan deals with thecontributing historical, social, and psychological (or is thatpsycho-pathological?) factors in such a way that the readercan clearly see the storm clouds gathering. Delusion,frustration and deep-seated aggression are clearly conspiringto drive an already unbalanced Samuel off the rails. Andwhen it does happen, it happens in spectacular fashion - andproves that truth really can be stranger than fiction.Notice is hereby given that theANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGofTHE NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIAwill be held at the Brassey Hotel, Belmore Gardens, Barton, ACTOn Friday, 15 November 2002 at 8.00 pmBUSINESS1. To confirm the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held in Canberra on Friday 16 November. 20012. To receive the report of the Federal Council, and to consider matters arising3. To receive the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 20024. To elect Office Bearers for the 2002-2003 year as follows:- Federal President- Federal Vice-President-AdditionalVice-Presidents (4)Nominations for these positions are to be lodged with the Honorary Secretary prior to the commencementof the meeting.5. General Business:-To deal with any matter notified in writing to the Honorary Secretary by 5 November. 2002-To approve the continuation in office of those members of the Federal Council who have attained 72 years ofage. namely John Bird (Vic), Joan Cooper (Tas). Arthur Hewitt (WA). Gwen Hewitt (WA), John Jeppesen(NSW). Tom Kilburn (Vic) and Andrew Robertson (NSW).ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTENDBy order of the Federal CouncilRay Corboy, Honorary Federal Secretary, PO Box 309, MtWaverley VIC 3149Telephone (03) 9888 1977 Fax (03) 9888 108334 VOLI NO 4THE NAVYTHE NAVY VOL M NO 4 35