Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve
Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve was a reserve force of the Royal Australian Navy.
Formation
In late 1920, the Navy Board proposed the creation of an Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve scheme, with approaches made to yachting and rowing clubs, starting in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania. Men who were undergoing or liable to compulsory training under the Defence Act were ineligible for enrolment. For the volunteers, a period of five years of service was proposed with parading twice a month, training occur outside of business hours, entry as an able seaman rating, and officer appointments not based on social or other positions. Requirements later included fourteen days training every alternate year, and 'seven days out of this period should be spent afloat'.By 1925, following mufti attire on parades, the uniform was determined to be the same as the regular forces, with 'RANVR' replacing 'RANR' on the cap band, and the uniform to be supplied by the government instead of the individual as had been the case in the past. Members, unless former ratings of the Royal Navy or Royal Australian Navy, had to be more than 21 years-of-age.
World War II actions
During World War II, most Australian coastwatchers were commissioned as officers in the RANVR. Some RANVR officers also served in the Royal Navy, and with the Royal Canadian Navy. One officer also served as the Royal Navy liaison officer to the Soviet Navy.was a fishing trawler requisitioned by the Royal Navy in 1940 and converted for anti-submarine warfare. It went into service in January 1941 and served with the 31st Anti-Submarine Group based at Gibraltar under the command of Lieutenant Commander Arthur Henry Callaway DSO RANVR, sinking the.
HMS Alisma was a of the Royal Navy. She was commanded by Acting Lieutenant Commander Maurice George Rose, RANVR from 2 May 1941 to 1 May 1943, succeeded by Lieutenant George Lanning, RANVR until 11 June 1945. She was part of Escort Group B7, one of seven such British naval groups which served with the Mid-Ocean Escort Force. It provided convoy protection in the most dangerous midsection of the North Atlantic route.
In June 1945, the starting contingent of 12 RAAF pilots were transferred to the RANVR, to undergo training and service with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy.
It was confirmed members could receive promotion in exceptional circumstances if they had the special qualifications. Members demobilising at the end of the war were entitled to a discharge certificate.
1946–1973
In August 1948, with just 948 members on Royal Australian Navy's reserve list, the RANVR was reestablished, seeking 30000 former reservists with wartime service rejoin for a four-year term. By December, 1300 former navy members had applied. Youth and men with no naval experience would be sought later. The Women's Royal Australian Naval Reserve was also created. RANVR personnel were different to the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. The former could be called up for hostilities, whereas the latter group could be mobilised at any time. The minimum recruiting age was seventeen years.With the onset of the Korean War in 1950, those persons unable to join the Royal Australian Naval Reserve due to an inability to perform training or distance were able to be accepted into the RANVR. A submission was also made at this time to have all service payments to members tax-free. Reservists continued to be used in various capacities such as additional staffing for the 1962 Exercise Seascape, part of a South-East Asia Treaty Organisation operation.
The current Royal Australian Naval Reserve was formed in June 1973, from a merger of the RANVR and the RANR, formed in 1921 and 1913 respectively.
Individual honours
Various members of the RANVR received acknowledgement for their service. By May 1944, fifty-six RANVR personnel had received 71 decorations or awards; and by August 1944, RANVR personnel had been included two George Crosses, two DSOs, two OBEs, two MBEs, sixteen DSCs, one Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, two DSMs, and ten George Medals. Due to wartime security, the reasons for the awards were not always released at the time of awarding.A person's presence in the below list does not suggest their award was more notable than any other award; ranks and existing citations are as of the time of the awarding; and the list is incomplete. Person may be listed for more than one entry. List ranked by 'order of wear'.
| Name | Rank | Age | Award | Action/citation | Year awarded |
| Lieutenant | 35 | GC | For naval mine clearance. Only one of eight individuals who were awarded both the George Cross and the George Medal. | Sep 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | 33 | GC | For naval mine clearance, clearing the port of Bremen, rendering safe a new type of enemy mine. | Apr 1946 | |
| Lieutenant | 32 | GC | For naval mine clearance, stripping live enemy mines. | Mar 1943 | |
| Lieutenant | 40 | GC | For naval mine clearance. One of two persons to be awarded a GC, GM and bar. | Aug 1943 | |
| Temporary Lieutenant | OBE | For special services, related to bomb disposal work, for an act 'of surpassing coolness and courage', dismantling a land mine in Britain. | Apr 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | OBE | Replacing an MBE awarded in October 1943. | Apr 1944 | ||
| Commander | OBE | For meritorious service in organising, directing, and planning propaganda work for the Far Eastern Liaison Office from 1942 to the end of the war against Japan. Later made a CBE in the 1958 New Year Honours unrelated to the RANVR. | Jan 1946 | ||
| Lieutenant | MBE | For bravery and steadfast devotion to duty. | Oct 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant | MBE | For bravery and steadfast devotion to duty. Rendered mines safe from Darwin. Died 18 May 1953. | Oct 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | 39 | MBE | For almost twenty years RANVR service, with meritorious service in the Coral Sea and New Guinea waters. Previously mentioned in dispatches. | Jan 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | MBE | For intiiative and devotion to duty under hazardous and arduous conditions. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | MBE | Appointed in the King's Birthday Honours 1943. Gill also wrote the two volumes on the Royal Australian Navy in the official history series Australia in the War of 1939–1945. | Jun 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | MBE | . | Jan 1971 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | MBE | For bravery in saving life after HMS was sunk. | May 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant | MBE | For intiiative and devotion to duty under hazardous and arduous conditions. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MBE | For distinguished service during the European war. Later involved in mine clearance. | Dec 1945 | ||
| Engineer Lieutenant | 58 | MBE | Shepperd had previously earned a DSM in 1943 as a chief engine room artificer. | Jan 1967 | |
| Lieutenant Commander | MBE | Outstanding zeal and devotion throughout long service. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSO 1st bar | Jan 1946 | |||
| Lieutenant Commander | 35 | DSO | For conspicuous gallantry and bravery in a daring and brilliant action with the against a German U-boat twice her size and more heavily armed. Callaway was believed to be killed in action in December 1941 against another U-boat. | Oct 1941 | |
| Sub-Lieutenant | DSO | For daring, resource and devotion to duty while serving in at Namsos, Norway. | Aug 1940 | ||
| Lieutenant | 26 | DSO | After crewing a midget submarine HMS X24 and sinking two ships and a floating dock in Bergen, Norway in April 1944. | Jun 1944 | |
| Lieutenant Commander | 38 | DSC 2nd bar | For courage, outstanding efficiency and devotion to duty whilst serving in, in a successful engagement with an enemy submarine U-1063 off Start Point, Devon, on 16 April 1945. He received an OBE in June 1960, and retired from the RAN Reserve in 1961. Born on 17 August 1907, Darling died on 18 November 2002 in Sydney. | Aug 1945 | |
| Lieutenant | 27 | DSC 2nd bar | Second bar to the DSC, penetrating D-Day Normandy minefields in pitch darkness, in a midget submarine. He was the first Australian volunteer reservist to win two decorations for submarine service, which arose from Atlantic convoying. | Dec 1944 | |
| Lieutenant Commander | 37 | DSC 1st bar | For courage, resolution and skill with U-boat operations, sinking U-736. | Nov 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | 26 | DSC 1st bar | Involved with XE-class submarines. | Apr 1944 | |
| Lieutenant Commander | DSC 1st bar | For gallantry, skill and devotion to duty while serving in His Majesty's Australian ships in successful assault operations in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon Island. | Jun 1950 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | 36 | DSC 1st bar | For sinking of a German U-boat on 10 April 1945. | Sep 1945 | |
| Provisional lieutenant | DSC 1st bar | For bravery and skill in the Mediterranean, damaging an Italian cruiser in the Straits of Messina. | Dec 1943 | ||
| Temporary Acting Lieutenant Commander | DSC | For work during Allied invasion of Europe, commanding a division of tank landing craft at Normandy. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Temporary Sub-Lieutenant | DSC | For submarine hunting when on North Atlantic convey operations. | Jun 1944 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | For gallantry in the face of the enemy, and for setting an exampleof wholehearted devotion to duty which upheld the high traditions of the Royal Navy. | Jun 1944 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | 'Lieutenant Billman landed on Panaon Island on 20th October, 1944 with the assault forces. He displayed bravery, devotion to duty and exceptional skill over a period of four months in dealing with Japanese mines and unexploded bombs in the clearance operations in the Philippines.' Received a Commander 7th Fleet Commendation in June 1945. | Nov 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | For his part in the sinking of a U-boat in October 1940 by the. | Nov 1941 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | For gallantry and distinguished service during the assault on and capture of Termoli, Italy, in the face of heavy opposition from the enemy. | Feb 1944 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | DSC | For bravery and enterprise in reconnaissance operations. | Feb 1945 | ||
| Sub-lieutenant | 21 | DSC | For saving a Malta convey when on the. | Nov 1941 | |
| Sub-Lieutenant | 26 | DSC | For conduct in naval anti-submarine operations in the Mediterranean Sea. | Jan 1941 | |
| Lieutenant Commander | 37 | DSC | For his part in anti-U-boat operations in the resulting in the destruction of a U-boat U-333. | Nov 1944 | |
| Acting Lieutenant Commander | DSC | Commanding a tank landing ship. | Jan 1945 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | For distinguished service and gallantry during the invasion of the South of France. | Mar 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | For bravery and enterprise in reconnaissance operations. | Feb 1945 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | For exceptional skill, audacity and judgment whilst serving in one of H.M. Submarines. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | Distinguished service in light coastal craft particularly in safeguarding the passage of troops during the invasion assaults of Normandy. | Jan 1945 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | For gallant and distinguished service in light coastal craft in a successful engagement of the enemy. This involved superior forces of enemy trawlers and E-boats around the United Kingdom. | May 1944 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | On board the. | May 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | 35 | DSC | Naval mine clearance. | Jan 1945 | |
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | For courage, skill and devotion to duty whilst serving in H.M.S.A.S., H.M.C.S., H.M. Ships, and and Light Coastal Forces, in the destruction of enemy submarines and midget submarines. | Jul 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | For service in Greece and the Dalmatian Islands. | Nov 1944 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | DSC | . He was awarded a CBE on 1 January 1970 for services to the community in New South Wales. | Jan 1941 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | Dived from his small craft into oil-smeared waters to rescue survivors from a sunk destroyer. | May 1944 | ||
| Lieutenant | 29 | DSC | For great daring and enterprise. Presented by His Majesty, The King, at Buckingham Palace. | Jul 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | DSC | For outstanding courage and devotion. Involved with XE-class submarines. | Jan 1944 | ||
| Acting Lieutenant | 31 | DSC | For great daring and enterprise. Coastwatcher. Presented by His Majesty, The King, at Buckingham Palace. | Jul 1944 | |
| Acting Lieutenant | 29 | DSC | For great daring and enterprise. | Jul 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | 23 | DSC | For bravery and skill in successful patrol in one of His Majesty's submarines. He was given to be the first Australian to command a submarine. Having served on the, he then temporarily commanded the. Lt Geoffrey J. Gellie was the first RANVR member given permanent command of a submarine in April 1944. Littlejohn's DSC was the 47th DSC to RAN personnel. | Dec 1943 | |
| Lieutenant | 23 | DSC | For his part in the dramatic attempt to seize Oran against Vichy France in November 1942. Awarded prior to March 1945. | May 1943 | |
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | Serving with the light coastal forces in Britain. | Jun 1944 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | 32 | DSC | For bravery, skill, and devotion to duty in during anti-U-boat operations. | Oct 1944 | |
| Acting Temporary Lieutenant Commander | 35 | DSC | For gallantry in the landing at El Agala. McKauge was later made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for service to veterans. | Jun 1944 | |
| Sub-Lieutenant | 31 | DSC | For "bravery and devotion to duty" while assisting the evacuation of forces from Norway on the armed trawler St Loman, as a member of the 15th Anti-Submarine Striking Force. | Aug 1940 | |
| Temporary Lieutenant | DSC | For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy. | Nov 1944 | ||
| Acting Lieutenant | DSC | For courage, determination and great devotion to duty in valuable and hazardous survey operations in the Far East. | Jul 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | Served abroad in light coastal craft of the Royal Navy, receiving the DSC for the courage, resolution and skill he displayed in a number of successful engagements with enemy forces. | Jan 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | DSC | For bravery and enterprise in reconnaissance operations. | Feb 1945 | ||
| Acting Lieutenant | 30 | DSC | For great daring and enterprise. | Jul 1944 | |
| Provisional lieutenant | DSC | For bravery during a daring attack on Tripoli harbour while serving in the light coastal craft, sinking a submarine. | Sep 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant | 31 | DSC | For great daring and enterprise. | Jul 1944 | |
| Ordinary seaman | CGM | After the was attacked and cut in half, he shot down an enemy plane that was machine-gunning survivors in the water. | Jan 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | GM 1st bar | Naval mine clearance. | Nov 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | GM 1st bar | Naval mine clearance. | Jun 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | 39 | GM 1st bar | Naval mine clearance. | Jun 1942 | |
| Lieutenant | GM | Naval mine clearance. | Jun 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | 35 | GM | Naval mine clearance. | Apr 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | GM | Naval mine clearance. Posthumous award. | Jun 1941 | ||
| Lieutenant | 32 | GM | Naval mine clearance, including multiple unexploded mines, deep in mud. | Apr 1942 | |
| Lieutenant | GM | Naval mine clearance. | Jun 1941 | ||
| Lieutenant | 38 | GM | Naval mine clearance. Volunteer member of a naval 'suicide squad' 'delousing' unexploded bombs and mines within London. | Jun 1941 | |
| Lieutenant | GM | Naval mine clearance. | Jun 1942 | ||
| Ordinary seaman | DSM | For his work during the raid on Saint Nazaire. | May 1942 | ||
| Ordinary seaman | DSM | Dec 1942 | |||
| Able seaman | 37 | DSM | For great daring and enterprise. | Jul 1944 | |
| Sub-Lieutenant | MiD | For bravery and enterprise in reconnaissance operations. | Feb 1945 | ||
| Acting Lieutenant Commander | MiD | . | Oct 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For courage, skill and undaunted devotion to duty in exceptionally hazardous operations, in the Nassau Bay area in August 1944 for diligent clearing unexploded ordnance from the Leyte and Manila Bay areas. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Light coastal craft during the invasion of Normandy. | Nov 1944 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For outstanding courage, skill and initiative while serving in H. M. Australian Ships,,,,, and, and Light Coastal Forces, over a period of seven months, in operations in the Far East which covered the bombardments of Tarakan, Wewak, Lubuan and Balikpapan and the attack on the Lingayen Gulf, Aitape and Wewak. | Nov 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For gallant leadership and devotion to duty under heavy and continual fire from the enemy during the landing on the Italian mainland of Sicily. | Feb 1944 | ||
| Acting Temporary Lieutenant Commander | 38 | MiD | For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied forces on the coast of Normandy. | Dec 1944 | |
| Lieutenant | MiD | On board the. | May 1945 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | MiD | For skill and enterprise in action against enemy submarines, with the. | Feb 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Courage and skill during anti-U-boat operations while serving in. | Dec 1944 | ||
| Probationary Sub-Lieutenant | MiD | . | Sep 1940 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | MiD | Oct 1945 | |||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Jun 1945 | |||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Good service in fire-fighting when a Sherman tank caught fire. On loan service with the Royal Navy since early 1941. | Jan 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | 35 | MiD | Aug 1944 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | MiD | Part of a beachhead landing at Anzio, Italy. | Nov 1944 | ||
| Acting Temporary Lieutenant Commander | MiD | For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied forces on the coast of Normandy. Commanded a fleet mine sweeper. | Dec 1944 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For skill, determination and bravery in anti-U-boat operations whilst serving with H.M. Ships, and. | Mar 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For outstanding courage, skill and initiative while serving in H. M. Australian Ships,,,,, and, and Light Coastal Forces, over a period of seven months, in operations in the Far East which covered the bombardments of Tarakan, Wewak, Lubuan and Balikpapan and the attack on the Lingayen Gulf, Aitape and Wewak. | Nov 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | On the. | Jan 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For zeal, patience and cheerfulness in dangerous waters and seting an example of that wholehearted devotion to duty without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not have been upheld.. | Jun 1943 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | MiD | For gallantry, skill, and leadership in engagement with enemy E-boats while serving with light coastal forces in England. | Apr 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Already with a DSC. | Mar 1945 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | MiD | For work during Allied invasion of Europe, commanding a division of tank landing craft at Normandy. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Temporary lieutenant | MiD | Nov 1944 | |||
| Lieutenant | MiD | On board the. | May 1945 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | MiD | For gallantry, skill, determination and undaunted devotion to duty during the landing of Allied Forces on the coast of Normandy. | Dec 1944 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For outstanding courage, skill and initiative while serving in H. M. Australian Ships,,,,, and, and Light Coastal Forces, over a period of seven months, in operations in the Far East which covered the bombardments of Tarakan, Wewak, Lubuan and Balikpapan and the attack on the Lingayen Gulf, Aitape and Wewak. | Nov 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | MiD | For zeal, patience and cheerfulness in dangerous waters and seting an example of that wholehearted devotion to duty without which the high tradition of the Royal Navy could not have been upheld.. | Jun 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness. | Jan 1941 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Good services in action against submarines. Died 11 March 1942 near Iceland on the HMS Stella Capella when the trawler was sunk by German submarine U-701. | Jan 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For bravery and enterprise in reconnaissance operations. | Feb 1945 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | MiD | For distinguished service and gallantry during the invasion of the South of France. | Mar 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For outstanding courage, skill and initiative while serving in H. M. Australian Ships,,,,, and, and Light Coastal Forces, over a period of seven months, in operations in the Far East which covered the bombardments of Tarakan, Wewak, Lubuan and Balikpapan and the attack on the Lingayen Gulf, Aitape and Wewak. | Nov 1945 | ||
| Temporary Lieutenant | MiD | For gallantry, tenacity and undaunted devotion to duty in patrols in the Aegean area throughout one of the most dangerous periods of war in the Mediterranean. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Temporary Acting Lieutenant Commander | MiD | For good services whilst attached to the Sea Frontier in the repatriation of British Prisoners of War from the Far East. | Mar 1946 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Gallantry, skill, determination and devotion. Relating to duty during the landing of Allied forces on the coast of Normandy. | Dec 1944 | ||
| Sub-Lieutenant | MiD | Jan 1945 | |||
| Lieutenant | MiD | For work during Allied invasion of Europe, commanding a division of tank landing craft at Normandy. | Jun 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | MiD | Outstanding zeal, patience and cheerfulness. | Jan 1942 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | VRD | ||||
| Lieutenant Commander | VRD | Apr 1961 | |||
| Lieutenant Commander | VRD | 1953 | |||
| Lieutenant Commander | VRD | Apr 1961 | |||
| Lieutenant Commander | 52 | VRD | Apr 1961 | ||
| Lieutenant Commander | VRD | Apr 1961 | |||
| Sub-Lieutenant | Legion of Merit | For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States of America, while serving as liaison officer on the staff of the Commanding General of an island in the Pacific war area. Presented the Legion of Merit, Degree of Legionnaire in November 1945. | 1945 | ||
| Lieutenant | Silver Star | For service with the US First Marine Raider Battalion in the landings at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, in August 1942. | Sep 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant | Silver Star | For service with the US First Marine Raider Battalion in the landings at Tulagi, Solomon Islands, in August 1942. | Sep 1943 | ||
| Lieutenant | Bronze Star | 1948 | |||
| Lieutenant | Bronze Star | For meritorious achievement as the commanding officer of the midget submarine HMS XE4 Exciter as part of Operation Sabre severing underwater telecommunication cables. Presented in March 1947. | 1947 | ||
| Lieutenant | Bronze Star | For meritorious achievement in the south-west Pacific area from May 1943 to September 1944 as a coastwatcher. Presented in October 1948. | 1948 | ||
| Lieutenant | Cross of Merit | For outstanding work for Netherlands forces and civilians in very trying circumstances. Lieutenant Davis, as deputy Naval Officer in charge of Broome, Port Hedland district during an enemy attack on Netherlands navy planes at Broome on March 3, 1942, showed conspicuous organising ability, handled transport in a masterly manner and rendered great assistance to those aboard this plane. | Jul 1944 |