Guy Griffiths The Life And Times Of An Australian Admiral

Local Description

A new biography tells the story of one of Australia’s most decorated Admirals. 

From humble beginnings as the son of a vigneron in the Hunter Valley, Rear Admiral Guy Griffiths served a remarkable career in the Royal Australian Navy that spanned three wars. 

This new book by Peter Jones, himself a retired Vice Admiral, shines a light on the inspiring career of one of Australia’s most celebrated naval heroes. 

Guy Griffiths: The Life & Times of an Australian Admiral, was launched by Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra on 27 May, 2021. Rear Admiral Griffiths was the Guest of Honour at the event.

The book

Guy Griffiths: The Life & Times of an Australian Admiral is the authorised biography of Rear Admiral Guy Griffiths AO, DSO, DSC, RAN. The biography is published by Australian Scholarly Publishing.

Guy Griffiths was a country boy who descended from pioneering Hunter Valley vignerons. Perhaps more than any other man, Guy experienced the RAN’s journey from its Depression-era strictures, its darkest days in the face of the Japanese onslaught, its finest hour in the Philippines Campaign and then its reinvention as a capable middle-power Navy centred on aircraft carriers in the missile age.

What is notable about Guy Griffith’s remarkable career is his service in three wars. In the course of World War II, Guy’s first ship, the battle cruiser HMS Repulse, was involved in the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck and Guy subsequently survived the sinking of Repulse off Singapore. He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his efforts defending against Japanese kamikaze aircraft onboard the cruiser HMAS Shropshire in the Philippines Campaign. Guy Griffiths was also present at the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay.

During the Korean War Guy served in two ships off Korea, the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney and the destroyer HMAS Anzac. He went on to commission the new frigate HMAS Parramatta and the book gives a rare insight in the RAN during the Cold War. His second sea command was the new guided missile destroyer HMAS Hobart. She was the first RAN destroyer to serve in the Vietnam War and the book describes her extremely active service off the Vietnamese coast for which Guy Griffiths was made a member of the Distinguished Service Order for his outstanding leadership in action.

As a senior officer Guy Griffiths commanded the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne when it assisted Darwin in the wake of cyclone ‘Tracey’. He then served is a variety of senior positions within the Navy and retired as a Rear Admiral after 42 years’ service. 

Guy Griffith’s biography is the personal journey of a country boy who went from young cadet-midshipman to become a highly regarded naval leader in peace and war.