HQ Fremantle Coast Artillery

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Brief History

When war commenced the coastal defences of Western Australia were in the hands of permanent soldiers from 3rd Heavy Brigade with assistance from militia members of the 7th Heavy Brigade (Militia), both units co-located at the Artillery Barracks, Fremantle. In late 1940 it was re-organised to form integrated batteries with the headquarters unit named as HQ Fremantle Fixed Defences. In August 1943 it was renamed HQ Coast Artillery Fremantle, and in April 1944 to HQ Fremantle Coast Artillery. In July 1944 it was absorbed into HQ Fremantle Fortress.

Between October and December 1944 the coast batteries were placed on a car and maintenance based or were disbanded, with the HQ taking direct control of what remained of the coast artillery in March 1945. New batteries designed to be part of the post war defences began at Leighton, South Beach and Cape Peron but were not completed prior to the end of the war.

Unit Personnel

• Viola Shirley Franklin 22 Jul 1944 - 6 Jan 1946
• Violet Whitehouse 24 Jul - 5 Sep 1944
• Shirley Craddon 11 Nov - 31 Dec 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.166 & 3.167 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018