Report to the Members – Dr. John R Carroll – November 2009

Acting upon the advice of significant others, on 01st May 2006, I was accepted by the School of Historical Studies at Monash University, on probation for twelve months, to complete a study into the sea transport and logistical support role undertaken by the RAN during the years of Australia’s involvement in this conflict. I can now report, some three and a half years later, that the project has been deemed suitable for examination, and has been forwarded to the two examiners on 03rd of November 2009 for their judgement and comment as to its value as a piece of Australian Naval history on a topic, which up until now, has been given very little comment from historians, and persons of similar ilk.

The purpose behind the project was to enable an in-depth study to be undertaken into the role HMAS Sydney played in supporting the land based forces, and when transporting the bulk of these men to and from the war zone. It was also intended to gather material which would dispel some of the myths that have been allowed to diminish the importance of the sea transport and logistical support task as a whole.

Since starting this study I have tended to focus on not much else. I have always believed that the best philosophy to adopt when undertaking a project such as this is to do one thing at a time and do it properly. My supervisors at Monash have been very insistent that the project be done correctly from an historical perspective, and many hours have been spent on revising, rewording, clarifying and placing into proper perspective the information now contained in the final submitted thesis.

This project has been undertaken as a properly constituted, supervised and approved PhD dissertation, with its main purpose being to submit it for examination by subject matter experts in the field. On passing, this would then give the thesis credibility based upon the many irrefutable facts it has uncovered. It is my intention that after the examination process has been completed, that, with your help and input, a book with some credibility attached to it will be published. This will be of some personal importance to those that served in the sea transport and logistical support role during the Vietnam era.

I apologise for my tardiness in not keeping you the members fully informed and ‘up to speed’ with the progress of this task, however, now that it has reached the final stages, a bit more time can be devoted to this and other things. It has not been easy compiling information from many sources, and then recording these in an acceptable narrative. One tends to repeat oneself time and time again. I take great heart from the noted author Jeffrey Archer, when he has stated that when writing his books on his life in prison, it was not uncommon for him to produce at least seven drafts before he and his publisher were happy with the final product.

Photographic evidence of my submission of the 95,000 word thesis is available, and may even accompany this short epistle.

All the best for the forthcoming festive season and kind regards to you and yours.

Dr. John R Carroll
08th November 2009