AWM52 1/11/18/4 - Headquarters London Victory March Contingent, 1946, part 3, Naval log - Part 2

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Awaiting approval
Accession number:
RCDIG1020020
Difficulty:

Page 1 / 10

22 y ---- Ce - le and 22 Apr4s. It will be polawen by leave until 250800 ho. N0 ather detaik yet anaible 100 tr Spied 15.2 k (16d by new) Coric 275 (6) sutance since 191200 hrs, 380 andter. halilude So12.5 S Langitude 1310 17 E cananate do appeing RC0IRT & necreation tog under Pr inctrs 1600 PT at affor lnder Lt LtBRAIAN an quarterdick tis to be a negatar haade. bath contingent library, nume by chap IAMES and sheps hbeary Inbe wankiing. chat have vot as yet been lble to let in campletely with wast paader. Approve half - cantinuent amsting apporite testm number in sdip. Ing wa terepare rentuicted to ane st savade. 0so held in mers Terk. Bet intended & t sreat auces. The intentian io to ang bigges whches ane to relieve caredan during nayase 2100 Weater cannend to detenanate 330 Very raugh sea admipt everywhere. Tabeard nea boat brake partly laane
24 te Weath Sea Enteners ---:- 29 thouch fa role - e - - - sk sed tenter 25 AF SEA Sunday 21 apr. th campor toble might fro al vants yiits an bit of water came i and mers decks and same bedding because very dam wet. Beany van rqualls of shat duration 6700 kenadably good attendance at bre abpart. It was interesting to note that and felaws werl haddiing their own with ships campany as for as rea sikness wass cansedined. leason being that a great many of tem lave wer been to sea before liing og we a thes church harade Ireduted for was nts ws ed. Takent Cn & P wre wa devingal 800s Reduced feed to ER and stered ento mer a ateopled to recuve sea boat. Atempt not succespul. INR rigged an man deck in passageways ta csely meance- 1200. Speed 16h Couse 2bs (8 Bistance taveted since 2o1200 360nile hatitude 37 122 S Lanzitude 12400 5 Wind N-S between 16- 55 mph tndent day in at sanks pler iooing o vrbbiig 1600. Westtr impraving ad warked aound to past gearte and not causing as much shacfat swek still aveage length e maderate eight but rough Lt PCK returned to duty 1820 Retarded clocks 1h.
26 Beathe de ) -- 7 offect ------ Panition 221400 pounded Cape CWI ati far Hch tfen 6e AF SEA Manday 22 Apr time chear day, nlight near with i agt. Mafaity of way ment pcpaat las mart in PRtA an 23 Ap. Ogane Puraden without nipher but with webbing wsh g ebeo t anas caried satspatanly. living to wued ictade many different tatuce calledad in water poct andea webey beta 1 71 6900100 d aed Gamest hig pereentage of the contingent are stiff I am Knevsu ays PT and asanesed ame nily itht <g g <g gd have madve-tntly fac ane the side. ho make il s Spied 14 K Caurie 266 (6) wend approse 12k venbilttle kall 5-10 intence hem sence 21B0c 392 ms Catitude 35 19 S Langetude 116 32 C 1400. ad 120 Lifter Bac. Eug MCT -N acld camperence attended by that Wws ve FREF NENTEE tt penouned having reitive and bricinds
28 . Femabe - - . cdee Fo this to be untiagos e demtl 2461. The aangement was saboequently nlightly stered by Lee E AMtR g did apprase 1 hos Bo during day under 5/St RNIGAT. He reports sagt be limpaverg already vaual continuent are apecating ig wite reparately form HAt i koot. Appros Thas is aqueced Ta loat dait is done a day. Ibto tis they have te e of the quaste decd. As Feber are emplayed during day an namea shiks dumers. - -
20 Weate d this heted Memante . H West Bustalion mamber of Woust 9 ntingent jured an aca. what Fity Uaned - opte 22 25 45 31 Tuenday 23 Apr. At SEA - FRE MANTIE a fine cear day. O750 it Whls amed dening ontian ta to enteruig hasbov. Pa aded with neptes & aedearms and drenned as ho the march. Slight tack as raa ot nt manad when anders Iwern to dreas ship am hast nide. an tntgent returd at atcntion as the ship steamed into 4c5 Rock FRCAMANTLE and bethed at 00.20. te there ewd afa onte 100 and an the what. 6830 acaded in the a harp prehaatoy small lnng dack and Tanching. This was dame not anly to Lactine at penonnet ha mach tough PERT4 but to give them back thei land legs. This paved to be very important, as wuite a number of perauned had not gat them completely back is taate as te march itef. batt foattull and wiple dritt whol enemly rageed after pirat tuembaking, but i oved. co ty were soe cannet of Lyns EAROPCAIRE ale wee to take part in march wa0 contingent & EARCDSHIRE Kasty fained mais an at he rear of the indat where Gew EATKER addiessed tem e enal desioguy aco a bowt standard of deaing ship, and atated that it must shane
eane io <N Contraning rembbe Ave t de Mark --- hante Saluberiy a -- 33 a distenet impovement in the future. He alo promitgated that heave wandd be granted until lyogos for those tathng avernngt nte 0 four tht in remande 1020. Tops baten aff ha a up of tha and fine palich up. and to tain. 1207. Anwad Betd with the hed of the calum t the EACT end 1225 May Gen Rt HCR arrived and toak camd 0 linget aved in the pataning e Wentien Cauch kand. Naval Categunt THRCP SHKt paety AME -- RAHF ee mane hd he kind there plive cantringent Lautc- NE LCINETCN St - PHFRACK 1 L1411 26 2p AcCp66S h 17p117 - Lientnant nit FIFEAEEL RCMC. When head the catn recached he at 1 poet
afferent $ - diception e - d fauned the afferial paty hich lded the Naval pii cammodare C.F DOPE) the e wereen loud (May Ge 55 415t LAMI, Grank Capt RHt MCRAN pementing Gaup Capt CT HANNAA, gn ea the had Mayes of MR.T.H FT. TOTTERDELL Eay the nte pas heath & sacint secie t FF FRHSng amnwealth averment and ted fo to duati (tan 5t CnkinI representing to Ctatee Gaverment a reananable mamber up pctators ted te vante, but t was fett wc mare than the verage bunch time conced. The reception of the marching traaks was disappainting It feeling of palite interent peruaded. The scene but no sare theee was patically no chearing apbing a applause In indieii tere was a canpse ace of a buntin patet consideation it is land.15 imagine eky the City o7 P127 reguenteed the rh be itwas am cuncity. e may bav 6 f o Capt With who aboeved te
. N --:-:-:----- hend at t tav march as a spectator picted many pauths in the calibic of the marching, but they were Maily caneconed with individwots to contingent us a end not of whate. 2o E Iday man, as haved by auowey of public apenion, here hadequacies were not apparent and the cantingent presented a anat t impressive aspect Never the lens it was reen that the stundard of marching awing othe effects of the sea vay age and tack of tny since heaveing MELRCidaE had deterioted Thasply. B Very I tenwe toe wit have to be completed a bove wal in Lonsan if the cantrinent is to stand up in the eye if the far mave initical lansor crowd and canpare with the Butil and hmpire the marching an the same day the continent was beaken eff at Hr LwC house wena riples in emeatected and tonpo had to the ship. The intire cambgin terted at tunch by be litesins Receptin Councit. The traops were proveded wet an extremely good 112d up lunch in the lady of the lat ehelst te affecial patt campressing Font of te ferons preveunt mentioned as atending at the rale
36 Henanset Advers cheald DPeply - Reception - yme sore 39 case were Imen and the appers of the cambingents were gwe an equatly gand ane and the stage. Kan FawkIN in wecomng the contingent an behalf of te te the ae af 14 the Statee Ganment said tat its a c leve had been seseitedd bem tey were wart acpcentateve of ReCR1M. detnguibe it ay they hada fat meponcibitly in pnt He CNBCN and full iio of the Hiltth peapte ph had pleasant uores dthe of kot hat he td in guC while a his way with a contingent to the MILDLE EAST i agains his ieturn. He hers of the intcy deandt wee jully aa epstnpsent lt were anceses i2o imang the SB1716i peaple and diseurst Te after h ahe wll antee with te expeption of a onat sinerity perbet on the ship were y wer leave - 1345 Gen to H00R toge te with t we seed the contenget including Cal EHCE
21 40 t Chief Afft CLLMENSE tel by tobe and Maf DEASEY LAAA What Lit VAMLS &Lady MITCHELL at Govenment loune Cat RARRat representad to Coe Weatern land. Staff Casps Meas 1700 TICLCOR Kanaicks enterkence& ad as te cabugent B . The appartunity was Men taken far wenter cand to pay trebute to sdet for te yoh ale las dame as Moton in Chie of the AANS diring the was. Hof WILLIHRIS te enear sate continuent aftr prevent thanked. t prevident and tenhes an behalf of the continent 2100 tando Ofps were invited to be queate of 110 H Aof and Matron of 110 Hcest yen ap Sistance taneked fram 22100 to 220000 - etC niles. 1 -- ---- T

22 23

Position

PM 22 Apr 46. It will be followed
by leave until 223 0800 hrs. NO
other details yet available.
1200 hrs Speed 15. 2 K (16 K by morn)
Course 278o (G) Distance since
19 1200 hrs, 380 miles. Latitude
38 o 12 . 5 " S Longtitude 131 o 17 ' E.
Barometer dropping.

Trng

1400-1500PT & recreational trg under
Pl PT instrs. 1600 PT all offrs
under Lt STARMAN on quarterdeck -
this to be a regular parade.

Library

Both contingent library, run by
Chap JAMES, and ships library
now working.

RAAF

Trng

RAAF have NOT as yet been
able to fit in completely with
AMF parades. Approx half
contingent assisting opposite technical
numbers in ship. Trng was therefore
restricted to one PT parade.

Concert

2030 Impromptu concert held
in mess deck. Well attended &
a great success. The intention
is to org more bigger & better ones  
to relieve boredom during voyage.

Weather

2100. Weather commenced to deteriorate.
2330 Very rough - gear adrift
everywhere. Starboard sea boat
broke partly loose. 

 

24 25

Sunday 21 Apr. AT SEA

Weather.

Sea Sickness.
Church Parade.

Uncomfortable night for all ranks.
Quite a bit of water came in on
mess decks and some bedding became
very dam wet. Heavy rain squalls
of short duration. 0700 Remarkably
good attendance at breakfast. It
was interesting to note that our
fellows were holding their own with
ships company as far as sea
sickness was concerned. Reason being
that a great many of them have
never been to sea before. Owing
to rough weather church parade
scheduled for 1000 hrs was
cancelled. Voluntary C of E & R C
services were held during day

Security
Measures.

0800. Reduced speed to 8 K and
steered into sea & attempted
to secure sea boat. Attempt
not successful. SWR rigged on
main deck & in passageways [[?]] as
security measure.

Position.

1200. Speed 16 K Course 265 o (G)
Distance travelled since 20 1200 360 miles
Latitude 37 o 12½ ' S Longitude 124 o 00 ' E
Wind N - S between 16 - 40 mph.
[[the?]] Rest day for all ranks plus
blancoing of webbing.

Weather.

1600. Weather improving. Wind
worked around to port quarter and
not causing as much discomfort.
Swell still  average length, sea
moderate height but rough.

Lt. PECK.

Lt. PECK returned to duty.

Retarded

Clocks.
1830. Retarded clocks 1hr.

[[?]]

 

26 27

Monday 22 Apr At Sea

Weather.

Parade.

Blancoeing
of Webbing.

P.T. &
Effects.

Position.

Fine clear day, slight sea with a
moderate to average swell. Majority
of day spent in preparation for march
in PERTH on 223 Apr. 0900 parade
without rifles, but with webbing incl
rifle slings. Webbing inspected to
ensure blancoeing carried out
satisfactorily. Owing to varied methods
of application there were many different
shades & inconsistenes in texture.
It was decided to adopt in a standard
method viz. dissolving in water first,
and reblanco all webbing before
reaching CAPE TOWN. 0945 - 1100 PT
and organised games. A high
percentage of the contingent are stiff
from previous days PT and organised
games, were concentrated so the latter mainly
with medicine balls, occupied most
of the time. Approximately half

the medicine balls brought on board
have inadvertently gone over the
side. 1100 Broke off. 1200. Speed
14 K Course 286 ° (G) Wind approx
12 K visibility 12 Miles Roll 5 ° - 10 °

22 1400. Rounded Cape LEEWIN
Distance Run since 21 1200 392 mls
Latitude 35 ° 19 ' S Longitude 116 ° 32 ' E

Preparation

for March.

1400. Good SD Uniforms distributed.
1500 - 1600. PT and organised games
1900. Rifles issued from armoury.

Conference on
Leave.

1600. Brig MOTEN held conference
adttended by Maj WILLIAMS & Adjt
to discuss leave question whilst
at FREMANTLE. A policy of
granting overnight leave only to those
personnel having relatives and friends

 

28 29

in PERTH ^was decided. This to be until2409800;
remainder until 240100. This
arrangement was subsequently slightly
altered by Gen EATHER.

Female
Tng

Female members of contingent
did approx 1½ hrs PT during
day under S/Sjt KNIGHT. He reports
their all round sprightliness to be
improving already.

RAN
Tng

Naval contingent are operating
tng quite separately from AMF &
RAAF. Approx 1 hrs xxxx mixed
PT & foot drill is done a day.
All members For this they have the
use of the quarter deck. All
members are employed during
day on normal ship's duties.

 

30 31

Tuesday 23 Apr. AT SEA - FREMANTLE

Weather.

Dressed Ship.

A fine clear day. 0750. All
ranks assumed dressing ship
positions preparatory to entering
harbour. Paraded with rifles &
sidearms and dressed as for
the march. Slight lack of room
at last moment when orders
given to dress ship on port side.

Berthed
Fremantle

Tng on
Wharf.

Continigent stood at attention as
the ship steamed into No 5 Dock
FREAMANTLE ,and berthed at 0820.
xxx There was a crowd of approx
100 and a band Western Comd Band on the wharf. 0830
Paraded on the wharf preparatory
to same small arms drill and
marching. This was done not only
to practice all personnel for
march through PERTH but to give
them back their "land legs". This
proved to be very important, as
quite a number of personnel had
not got "them" completely back
as late as the march itself.
Both foot drill and rifle drill where
extremely ragged after first
disembarking, but improved.

[*4 West Australian members of Naval
Contingent joined on arrival*]

SHROPSHIRE
Armed Party

Gen EATHERS
Address

Also tng were 60 ^armed personnel of
HMAS SHROPSHIRE who were
to take part in march. 1000
Contingent & SHROPSHIRE party
formed mass on at the rear
of the wharf where Gen EATHER
addressed them. He made
several derrogatory remarks about
must the standard of dressing ship,
and stated that it must show

 

32 33

Leave.

a distinct improvement in the
future. He also promulgated that
leave would be granted until
 240900 for those staying overnight
and until 240100 for those in
st remainder. 24

01020. Troops broken off for a
cup of tea and final polish up.

Entraining.

Assembly
Area - PERTH.

Order of
March.
1100. Fell in on wharf and
marched to train. 1207. Arrived
PERTH railway station. Detrained
and fell in, in front of station
with the head of the column
at the EAST end. 1225 Maj Gen
EATHER arrived and took comd
of the parade. 1230. Contingent
moved off in the following
order: Western Comd Band.
Naval Contingent
SHROPSHIRE party
AMF
RAAF
Again female members of
each service marched behind
their respective contingent.

Route.
Saluting
Base.

Route - WELLINGTON St - BARRACK
St - HAY St - WILLIAM St - ST GEORGES
Tce - to Anz ac House. The contingent
passed the saluting base situated
in ST GEORGES Tce opposite TRINITY
church at 1242 hrs. The salute
was taken by His Excellency the
Lieutenant Governor, Sir JAMES
MITCHELL KCMG. When the head
of the column reached the
saluting Maj Gen EATHER fell out

 

34 35

Official
Party.

and joined official party
which included the District Naval
Officer ^in charge Fremantle (Commodore C.J POPE), the
GOC Western Comd (Maj. Gen JS
WHITELAW), Group Capt RH MORAN
representing Group Capt CT HANNAH,
Air Offr commanding Western
Area, the Lord Mayor of PERTH (
F.T. TOTTERDELL Esq) the
Minister for Health & Social Services (
Senator JM FRASER) representing
the Commonwealth Government, and
the Minister for Education (Hon JT
TONKIN) representing the State
Government.

Comments on
Reception of
March.

A reasonable number of
spectators lined the route, but
it was felt no more than the
average lunch time crowd. Their
reception of the marching troops
was disappointing. X A feeling of
polite interest pervaded the
scene, but no more. X There was
practically no cheering, clapping,
or applause. In addition there
was a complete abscence of
flag s bunting, or patriotic
paraphenalia of any sort. On
consideration it is hard to
imagine why the city of PERTH
requested the march, when
it was plain curiosity. The
lack of enthusiasm may have
been due to inadequacies with
the standard of the march itself.
Capt WIER who observed the

 

march as a spectator picked
many fault,s in the calibre of
the marching, but they were
mainly concerned with individuals

and not of the contingent as a
whole. To a the lay man, as proved
by survey of public opinion, these
inadequacies were not apparent
and the contingent presented a
smart & impressive aspect.

Standard of
Marching

Nevertheless it was seen that
the standard of marching owing
to the effects of the sea voyage
and lack of tng since leaving
MELBOURNE had deteriorated
sharply. T Very intensive tng will
have to be completed after before
[*?*] arrival in LONDON if the contingent
is to stand up in the eyes
of the far more critical LONDON
crowd, and compare with the
British and EMPIRE tps marching
on the same day.

March
Concludes.

Official
Luncheon
at Anzac
House.

The contingent was broken
off at ANZAC House, where
rifles & sidearms were collected
and transported back to the
ship. The entire contingent
was entertained at lunch by
the Citizens Reception Council.
The troops were provided
with an extremely good stand
up lunch in the body of the hall,
whilst the official party comprising
most of the persons previously
mentioned as attending at the, salute

 

36 39

Hon. TONKINS
Adress.

base, were given and the offrs
of the contingents, were given
an equally good one on the
stage. Hon TONKIN in welcoming
the contingent on behalf of the
Rt Hon the Premier of WA &
the State Government, said
that it's members had been
selected because they were
worthy representatives of AUSTRALIA.
Everyone had distinguished
himself or herself in some way.
They had a great responsibility in
representing AUSTRALIA in LONDON
and would carry with them
the best wishes and full
appreciation of the AUSTRALIAN
people.

Gen  EATHERS
Add Reply.

Maj Gen EATHER in a brief reply
said that he had pleasant memories
of PERTH, which he visited in
1940 while on his way with a
Contingent to the MIDDLE EAST & again
on his return. Members of the Victory
Parade contingent were fully aware
of their responsibility in representing
AUSTRALIA. All were anxious to go
among the BRITISH people and
discuss their war experiences.
After After lunch all ranks
with the expception of a small
security picket on the ship were
given leave.

Reception
Government House.

1345. Gen EATHER together
with all service heads wi of
the contingent including Col SAGE

 

40 41

Chief Offr CLEMENSE Sec Offr
CARTER and Maj DEASEY were made an
entertained by official call on Sir JAMES & Lady
MITCHELL at Government House.
Col BARRET represented the GOC
Western Comd.

Drinks

Staff Corps
Mess

1700. Staff Corps Mess,
VICTORIA Barracks entertained
all offrs of the contingent to
drinks. The opportunity was
taken to pay for Western
Comd to pay tribute to Matron Col
SAGE for the job she has
done as Matron in Chief of
the AANS during the war. Maj
WILLIAMS, the senior male
Contingent offr present, thanked
the President and Members on
behalf of the Contingent.

Drinks
110 AGH.

2100. thanks Offrs were
invited to be guests of the CO
and Matron of 110 Aust Gen
Hosp for drinks.

Distance travelled from
221200 to 230800 - 280 miles.

MJ

Last edited by:
Deb ParkinsonDeb Parkinson
Last edited on:

Last updated: