My current writing project is a history of the RAN in Malaya and Malaysia between 1948 and 1972. From 1958 onwards RAN personnel were posted on loan to the RMN to fill a variety of billets to assist in the operation and development of the new navy. I've have decided to interview a representative selection of personnel from the RAN and RMN of that period to get their views on how the whole operation went.  

While it has proven possible to track down a number of the officers, we are having some trouble tracing the senior sailors. 

One difficulty is that we do not even have a complete list of who they were. Officers are listed in the records and in the Navy List, but sailors were often just referred to by their rank and category. I guess this is because most of the correspondence on the files came from DNOP and not from DSP. I have a few names, to wit:

POSN R.F. Hankinson, CPO (SV) G.A. McMahon, CEC C.F. Mitchell, OAP O.H. Miller,PO EWR L.I. McKay, CPO SOP2 R. Crofton

and CPO Rad W.A. Flynn. 

There have been many others, of both Supply and Engineering categories.

I am eager to interview a selection of the survivors to put their information in my book.

Ian Pfennigwerth

If you know anybody who can help Ian locate personnel who served with the RMN, please contact him by email at ipfennigwerth@kooee.com.au