herakles
19-07-2008, 20:38
Until Federation in 1901, each Australian State maintained its own navy. See: http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2107
The biggest issue facing the founding fathers was to decide which responsibilities of the States would be handed over to the new Federal Government. Clearly Defence would but several others such as Education and Health were not, a situation that still exists.
So in March 1901 the various navies were combined and placed under the care of Rear Admiral Creswell.
He was born and educated in Gibraltar. He joined the RN at age 13 as a cadet on Britannia and was promoted to Midshipman in 1867 and 2nd Lt. in 1871. He saw service with the Channel Fleet and at the China Station where in 1873 he was wounded, his bravery at the time gaining him promotion to Lt. After recuperating in England, he joined the East India Station and later commanded a flotilla off Zanzibar.
He retired in 1878 and tried farming in the Northern Territory but became convinced that he was unsuited to this. In 1885 on a visit to South Australia, he was persuaded to take command as 1st Lt. of the only naval vessel this State had - HMCS Protector. It was during this time that he formed the idea of the need to establish an Australian naval force to supplement the RN Squadron based in Sydney.
In 1895 he was promoted Captain and was now arguing strongly for the establishment of an Australian navy. In 1900 he was appointed commander of the Queensland navy but resigned from this soon after in order to take command of HMCS Protector on its deployment to China to assist in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion.
After Federation, Creswell's lobbying for an Australian navy gained momentum. Creswell had never wavered in his fight for an autonomous navy despite the scoffing of some influential citizens who believed that Australia should shelter under the umbrella of the powerful Imperial Fleet and in return contribute to Royal Navy Funds. He was regarded by many as Australia's chief spokesman on naval matters, hence his appointment in February 1904 to the new position of Naval Officer Commanding the Commonwealth Naval Forces. He had retained his position in Queensland and accepted the role of Naval Commandant in Victoria but his energies were primarily focused on the national navy.
Busy times lay ahead for Creswell. he had inherited a defence service which in his own words was 'practically on the verge of collapse' and with insufficient trained men even to crew the hotchpotch of ships. There were only two Lieutenants on the Permanent List for seagoing duties. As a remedy Creswell recommended a seven year plan to bring into service three destroyers of 1300 tons, one destroyer of 800 tons and four fast torpedo boats.
The Government sent Creswell to London in 1906 to discuss his proposals and to study naval development but the Committee of Imperial Defence declared that Creswell's proposed navy would have no 'strategic justification' and, indeed, would be a 'misapplication of naval power, opposed to every sound principal of naval strategy'.
Naturally Creswell was disappointed with the ridicule levelled at his well-conceived plan but he was far from demoralized and on his return to Australia was encouraged by the then Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, who budgeted 250,000 pounds for expenditure on coastal defence including harbours.
However in 1908 Andrew Fisher took over from Deakin and he had other plans for the 250,000. He was no less enthusiastic than Deakin for the development of Australia's own navy and his cabinet immediately approved a recommendation by Creswell for the procurement of 24 destroyers, three of which were ordered immediately without Admiralty consultation.
They were River Class Torpedo Boat-Destroyers of 700 tons with a top speed of 28 knots and were named Parramatta, Yarra and Warrego - The first new vessels destined soon to bear the proud prefix HMAS. Parramatta was launched in February 1910 and, with Yarra, arrived in Australia nine months later. Meanwhile a tender had been accepted for the building in Britain of the battle-cruiser Australia destined to become flagship of the fleet.
In 1911 Creswell was promoted to rear admiral in the service of the Royal Australian Navy.
Influenced no doubt, by the enormous expenditure which would be required over some years to establish the navy, the Australian Government appointed an ex-Royal Navy officer, Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, as a consultant. Henderson submitted a paper in March 1911 which proposed a massive fleet for that time of 52 warships, 15,000 men and six major bases, to be attained over two decades. It was far too ambitious for the financial resources of Australia with a population of less than 5 million.
It was a momentous occasion for Australia when on 10 July 1911, King George V approved the designation 'Royal Australian Navy'. The Naval Board finally promulgated the new designation on 5th October 1911 and pronounced that henceforth Australian Naval vessels were to be prefixed with the words "His Majesty's Australian Ship" (HMAS). The board also ordered that all naval ships were to fly the White Ensign at the stern and the Australian flag at the jackstaff. And so a proud Navy was born!
The fact that Australia's navy was ready for service when the World War I began was largely the result of Creswell's hard work and lobbying. During the war he was involved as an administrator in ship construction, the development of shore support, and the arranging of convoys. After the war he worked on developing a defence program for Australia, focussing mainly on ensuring the continued strengthening of the RAN.
Considered the father of the RAN, Creswell retired in 1919 and took up farming in Victoria; in the same year he was created KBE. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1922. He died on 20 April 1933.
(The group photo shows the officers of Protector. Creswell is in the middle)
The biggest issue facing the founding fathers was to decide which responsibilities of the States would be handed over to the new Federal Government. Clearly Defence would but several others such as Education and Health were not, a situation that still exists.
So in March 1901 the various navies were combined and placed under the care of Rear Admiral Creswell.
He was born and educated in Gibraltar. He joined the RN at age 13 as a cadet on Britannia and was promoted to Midshipman in 1867 and 2nd Lt. in 1871. He saw service with the Channel Fleet and at the China Station where in 1873 he was wounded, his bravery at the time gaining him promotion to Lt. After recuperating in England, he joined the East India Station and later commanded a flotilla off Zanzibar.
He retired in 1878 and tried farming in the Northern Territory but became convinced that he was unsuited to this. In 1885 on a visit to South Australia, he was persuaded to take command as 1st Lt. of the only naval vessel this State had - HMCS Protector. It was during this time that he formed the idea of the need to establish an Australian naval force to supplement the RN Squadron based in Sydney.
In 1895 he was promoted Captain and was now arguing strongly for the establishment of an Australian navy. In 1900 he was appointed commander of the Queensland navy but resigned from this soon after in order to take command of HMCS Protector on its deployment to China to assist in suppressing the Boxer Rebellion.
After Federation, Creswell's lobbying for an Australian navy gained momentum. Creswell had never wavered in his fight for an autonomous navy despite the scoffing of some influential citizens who believed that Australia should shelter under the umbrella of the powerful Imperial Fleet and in return contribute to Royal Navy Funds. He was regarded by many as Australia's chief spokesman on naval matters, hence his appointment in February 1904 to the new position of Naval Officer Commanding the Commonwealth Naval Forces. He had retained his position in Queensland and accepted the role of Naval Commandant in Victoria but his energies were primarily focused on the national navy.
Busy times lay ahead for Creswell. he had inherited a defence service which in his own words was 'practically on the verge of collapse' and with insufficient trained men even to crew the hotchpotch of ships. There were only two Lieutenants on the Permanent List for seagoing duties. As a remedy Creswell recommended a seven year plan to bring into service three destroyers of 1300 tons, one destroyer of 800 tons and four fast torpedo boats.
The Government sent Creswell to London in 1906 to discuss his proposals and to study naval development but the Committee of Imperial Defence declared that Creswell's proposed navy would have no 'strategic justification' and, indeed, would be a 'misapplication of naval power, opposed to every sound principal of naval strategy'.
Naturally Creswell was disappointed with the ridicule levelled at his well-conceived plan but he was far from demoralized and on his return to Australia was encouraged by the then Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, who budgeted 250,000 pounds for expenditure on coastal defence including harbours.
However in 1908 Andrew Fisher took over from Deakin and he had other plans for the 250,000. He was no less enthusiastic than Deakin for the development of Australia's own navy and his cabinet immediately approved a recommendation by Creswell for the procurement of 24 destroyers, three of which were ordered immediately without Admiralty consultation.
They were River Class Torpedo Boat-Destroyers of 700 tons with a top speed of 28 knots and were named Parramatta, Yarra and Warrego - The first new vessels destined soon to bear the proud prefix HMAS. Parramatta was launched in February 1910 and, with Yarra, arrived in Australia nine months later. Meanwhile a tender had been accepted for the building in Britain of the battle-cruiser Australia destined to become flagship of the fleet.
In 1911 Creswell was promoted to rear admiral in the service of the Royal Australian Navy.
Influenced no doubt, by the enormous expenditure which would be required over some years to establish the navy, the Australian Government appointed an ex-Royal Navy officer, Admiral Sir Reginald Henderson, as a consultant. Henderson submitted a paper in March 1911 which proposed a massive fleet for that time of 52 warships, 15,000 men and six major bases, to be attained over two decades. It was far too ambitious for the financial resources of Australia with a population of less than 5 million.
It was a momentous occasion for Australia when on 10 July 1911, King George V approved the designation 'Royal Australian Navy'. The Naval Board finally promulgated the new designation on 5th October 1911 and pronounced that henceforth Australian Naval vessels were to be prefixed with the words "His Majesty's Australian Ship" (HMAS). The board also ordered that all naval ships were to fly the White Ensign at the stern and the Australian flag at the jackstaff. And so a proud Navy was born!
The fact that Australia's navy was ready for service when the World War I began was largely the result of Creswell's hard work and lobbying. During the war he was involved as an administrator in ship construction, the development of shore support, and the arranging of convoys. After the war he worked on developing a defence program for Australia, focussing mainly on ensuring the continued strengthening of the RAN.
Considered the father of the RAN, Creswell retired in 1919 and took up farming in Victoria; in the same year he was created KBE. He was promoted to Vice Admiral in 1922. He died on 20 April 1933.
(The group photo shows the officers of Protector. Creswell is in the middle)