Record and Certificates of Mr William Frank Cook during his service as Naval Cadet and Midshipman

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Record and Certificates of Mr William Frank Cook during his service as Naval Cadet and Midshipman

Date1930-1936

Object numberANMS1445[023]

NameBooklet

MediumInk on paper

DimensionsOverall: 280 × 220 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Rhod Cook

Terms

DescriptionNaval Cadet and Midshipman Record and Certificates booklet of William Frank Cook, RAN. 13 paged document recording progress in seamanship, navigation, gunnery and other aspects of naval training while a Naval Cadet and Midshipman in the Royal Australian Navy during the mid 1930s. The booklet commences with Cook's entry as a Naval Cadet at Flinders Naval Depot on 1 January 1930 and concludes with his award of a Second Class Certificate for the rank of Lieutenant on 25 August 1936SignificanceThis booklet dates to the immediate pre-Second World War period and compliments William Cook's chronicle (as related in his Midshipman's Journal) of HMAS Australia (II)'s voyage to England and the Mediterranean between January 1934 and July 1936. The booklet is a relatively rare item, and provides a concise but comprehensive history of Cook's progress during his first years as a RAN officer-in-training.

The booklet belonged to William Cook, who served aboard HMAS Australia (II) as a Midshipman, and qualified for the rank of Lieutenant at the conclusion of his tenure aboard that vessel. Cook had a distinguished naval career, and served aboard notable Australian warships during the Second World War, including HMAS Perth (I), HMAS Voyager (I) and HMAS Nizam. He was mentioned in despatches for his service aboard Voyager during the Greek campaign in 1941. Awarded command of Nizam at the age of 28, Cook became the youngest Australian to command a destroyer during the conflict. He was later present at Tokyo Bay (while in command of Nizam) during the signing of the Japanese Instrument of Surrender on 2 September 1945. He later served as First Lieutenant of HMAS Wyatt Earp, the first Australian vessel to conduct Antarctic research in the immediate post-war period.