Chaplains in the Royal Australian Navy

Known in naval slang as “sin-bosuns,” chaplains have served as an integral part of the Royal Australian Navy for a century. From Keith Mathieson, who supported his shipmates in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, to the first Australian navy chaplain to be killed in active service—George Stubbs aboard the HMAS Sydney—this book profiles chaplains serving at sea and in naval establishments, both in war and at peace. As it examines the chaplain’s role as religious minister, counselor, and clergy prepared to challenge naval culture from a religious standpoint, this account also looks at the forces of change, including denominational rivalry and cooperation, tensions between religious and military roles, and shifts in Australian society. Royal Australian Navy chaplains have sought to serve both God and country; this exploration reveals the difficulties and successes of that task.