The Warrant Officer rank was reintroduced to the RAN on December 17, 1971 - with 87 Chief Petty Officers across the navy promoted to WO.

There were 12 in the Fleet Air Arm, including six at Nowra's HMAS Albatross.

From that original six at Albatross only two survive, Bob Brown and Rusty Marquis.

At 92 and 96 respectively, the spritely duo still both live in Nowra, and were the special guests at a function to mark the 50th anniversary at the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.

Organised and hosted by the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group, the function was attended by 16 current RAN Warrant Officers, many of whom who are based at HMAS Albatross.

Read more: Bob Brown and Rusty Marquis celebrate 50th anniversary of Warrant Officers rank

Warrant Officer of the Navy Deb Butterworth, even made the trip from Canberra to mark the occasion and made special presentations to both Mr Brown and Mr Marquis for the 50th anniversary.

A number of former RAN warrant officers were also present at the event, as was the Commanding Officer from HMAS Albatross, Captain Robyn Phillips and Shoalhaven Mayor, Councillor Amanda Findley.

Joining Rusty and Bob in the initial six WOs at Albatross were Don Simpson, Doug Eastgate, Geoff Beardsly and Paddy Linton.

Another well-known local Len Bolden who was in Sydney, was also made a WO as was Victor Baugh, who also has Shoalhaven ties and still lives in Nowra, but was posted away from Albatross at the time.

The new rank came above Chief Petty Officer and brought the navy into line with the army and air force, who both already had the WO ranks.

Vice-Chairman of the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group Fred Campbell said it was a "milestone in the Royal Australian Navy's illustrious history".

"It is fantastic to be able to acknowledge the two living warrant officers from that original group at Albatross, Bob Brown and Rusty Marquis," he said.

The Warrant Officer rank dates back to the very beginnings of the Royal Navy when ships were generally commanded by commissioned officers, who received their commission through the King or Queen.

Those commissioned officers usually came from nobility or wealth.

"However, there was a whole community of specialist mariners who possessed the required skills and knowledge to ensure the smooth and safe operation of a warship at sea," Mr Campbell said.

"In normal circumstances these skilled mariners would never be afforded the opportunity to be a commissioned officer - thus the term and rank warrant officer was raised.

"A commission for an officer in those days was usually signed off by the King or Queen - whereas a warrant for a Warrant Officer was signed off by the Admiralty.

"Fast forward to 2021 and the skills of our most senior sailors are still highly sought after, with the current batch of Warrant Officer warrants signed off by the Chief of Navy's office."

Since the first establishment of the WO in 1971, through to December 2021, some 2120 promotions have been made, with the first female WO promoted in 1974.

Mr Brown and Mr Marquis also cut a special 50th anniversary cake, supplied by HMAS Albatross, to mark the occasion with the RAN's latest WO Royce De Strang.

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