15TH JAN 1942 – MPS CAME LOOKING AWOL 2/4TH BOYS FROM ‘AQUITANIA’
Reunion Savoy Hotel 1982
The then President of 2/4th Percy Tompkins noticed with interest of news in the paper a reunion was to be held for Savoy’s barmaids – women who had in the past 60 years worked at the hotel. He sought out the organisers of the event.
He recalled January 1942.
On 15 January 1942 troopship ‘Aquitania’ carrying up to 4,000 8th Division troops to war made a one-night stopover at Gage Roads, Fremantle from Sydney, officially for further supplies and to collect 2/4th reinforcements from Northam. “Aquitania” had departed Sydney January 10, sailing to Fremantle arriving on January 15, 1942 where she anchored Gauge Roads in the port.
The 2/4th men on board were hopeful of a last visit to family before heading to the war front (they incorrectly believed they were headed to middle east). But despair hit – all visits were suddenly revoked and soldiers ordered not to leave the ship.
The 2/4th had been many months training in SA and then sent to Darwin. They had been away for Christmas and New Year.
Defying orders the soldiers rushed to board the lighters loaded with supplies and men as they came alongside ‘Aquitania’ They climbed out of port holes, over the side of the ship clinging to ropes. There was pandemonia as officers demanded the soldiers remain on board, one officer was known to be armed with his revolver. The lighters headed back to the loading wharf.
The young soldiers alighted from the lighters, ran and never looked back. Sprinting to train, bus, taxi etc. Men who had family in the metropolitan region headed home! They couldn’t contact their families until ashore and most didn’t stop to find a telephone box as many homes didn’t have telephones.
For the men who had enlisted from country WA their families were too distant – they were determined to have a final fling, to spend what would be their last hours on the ground of homeland of Western Australia and not on their ship ‘Aquitania’ anchored off Gage Roads.
Where did they all head to?
History tells us up to 100 men were captured by MPs at Fremantle wharves and imprisoned there (they missed sailing with Aquitania, sailed several weeks later and arrived Java).
A number headed to known hotel bars across the city and suburbs.
For those who chose the Savoy Hotel – it was a good choice.
Naturally MPs came calling on all known city watering holes – but for those men who had chosen the Savoy Hotel, well they had struck gold. Vigilent Savoy staff and barmaids ensured 2/4th men were hidden from sight. Under the counters, Ladies toilets, Manager’s desk and even the telephone booth. The boys returned the next morning to their ship endeavouring to avoid MPs on Fremantle wharf.
‘Aquitania’ departed Fremantle after a very short stay. The men on board soon learned Singapore was their destination.The “Aquitania” arrived in Ratai Bay at the Sunda Strait on January 20 (Sunda Strait is a strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra) where the 3,456 personnel as well as some Navy, Air Force and civilians were transhipped under a covering of naval force to seven smaller vessels (six of these being Dutch K.P.M. ships) that would take them to Singapore in convoy MS.2A. After all had disembarked, the “Aquitania” returned to Sydney arriving on January 31.
Below: On right of Hay Street looking west is Savoy Hotel as it was 1940’s.
