Spin Me a Dit!: Tales of The Royal Australian Navy

This excellent collection of sea stories, recounted in part by the participants, is a unique work reflecting a very personal aspect of the history of the Royal Australian Navy. Part of the book is devoted to evergreen tales from the corvettes. Thus it provides a memorable supporting volume to the author's earlier book on the Corvette class of small ships which played such a significant role for Australia in World War II. There are stories for everyone, covering exploits in and out of battle for all ships large and small, from the early days of the RAN through to the Korean War in the early 1950s. It is notable that a chapter is reserved for the tales of that courageous band of coastwatchers in those dark days of 1942 and 1943. Throughout the many 'dits', which will bring back a flood of memories to many naval readers, is reflected the special qualities of the men of the RAN. From service under conditions of adversity and hardship, which are difficult to comprehend today, emerge the qualities of initiative, courage, devotion to duty, loyalty to the ship and trust in shipmates. From those times lasting friendships remain and are so well demonstrated in the number and strength of naval ships associations active in the country today. Throughout these personal reflections runs the effervescent and irrepressable sense of humour of our sailors, and one wonders how many 'dits' still remain to be recorded.