Fortress Signals Fremantle
From Our Contribution
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Brief History
Both permanent and Militia gunners were used to man the Fremantle Port defences in a unit that from late 1940 was called Fremantle Fixed Defences. I is thought that the signals unit commenced at that time as a sub unit of Western Command Signals. From a base in North Fremantle that coordinated communication between the guns on Rottnest, those on the mainland and the associated search light and observation posts. As new gun positions were established in response to threat levels the signals network was expanded to include Garden Island .
In September 1943 Fortress Signals Fremantle absorbed Fortress Signals Albany and the 5th Australian Garrison Brigades Signals Section to form the Anti Aircraft & Fortress Signals, Western Area, with 1 Company at Fremantle, 2 Company on Rottnest Island and 3 Company at Garden Island. The Headquarters and 1 Company moved to Melville in February 1944 and with the reduction in threat of invasion the guns were by now manned by VDC personnel. While most of the guns were in care and maintenance by late 1944, signals staff remained until the end of the war to maintain equipment and to respond should an emergency arise.
Unit Personnel
- Arthur Harry Ayre 24 Jul 1941 - 28 Sep 1942
- Roma Joyce Babb 22 Sep 1943 - 13 Apr 1944
Notes
Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 4 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 4.598 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018