Labor MPs Peter Tinley and Simone McGurk at the Fremantle war memorial: The port city’s role in the Anzac legend is to be included in centenary commemorations, but only after intense lobbying. Photo by Jeremy Dixon

‘Fremantle is also incredibly important because most of the WA troops left from there’

FREMANTLE looks set to take part in Anzac Centenary commemorations after initially being snubbed.

Massive commemorative services are planned for Albany this year between October 31 and November 1 to mark the departure 100 years ago of thousands of troops, shipped from the southern port for the battlefronts of Europe and Asia-Minor.

But not all troop ships left from Albany: The Medic and Ascanius, with the 11th Infantry Battalion from WA and troops from SA aboard, left Fremantle on October 31, 1914 to meet up with the ANZAC convoy that had departed from Albany.

Troops who decamped from Fremantle had travelled by train from a boot camp at Blackboy Hill in Greenmount.

Federal Fremantle Labor MP Melissa Parke is rapt Fremantle is finally being recognised by the WA and federal governments for the significant role it played. She says a number of events are now planned for Fremantle, including commemorating the train trip from Greenmount.

“I think it’s very important that Fremantle be part of the anniversary celebrations,” she says. “I think it will be good for Fremantle, because not everyone can travel down to Albany.”

State RSL president Graham Edwards—a former Labor MP who lost both his legs to a land mine in Vietnam—says his members had demanded Fremantle’s inclusion.

“There has been a lot of focus on Albany, so I can see why people thought Fremantle was being left out,” he said.

“Albany is important because of the Anzac connection to Gallipoli but Fremantle is also incredibly important because most of the WA troops left from there.

“There was always something going to happen in Freo, it’s just a matter of getting it right.”

Cockburn RSL president Digger Cleak says it’s “absolutely essential” Fremantle and Cockburn are acknowledged.

He says the local RSL had put a submission to the national commemorative events committee to take part in the centenary shindig but was knocked back.

“I think a lot of people don’t realise the role Freo and Cockburn played during the First World War,” he said.

Fremantle Labor MP Simone McGurk says the WA and federal governments must contribute funding for Fremantle events.

“There are direct descendants from WA’s 11th Battalion who will want to be part of these proceedings and having part of the commemorative events held here will give metropolitan folk an opportunity to participate in the occasion,” she says.

“A lot of people have seen the famous picture of the 11th battalion on the Pyramids in Egypt in 1914. The challenge in deciding what we do here will be to capture the human element of the departure.”

by BRENDAN FOSTER