HMS Formidable

Among the most important ships in the family tree. The aircraft carrier, HMS Formidable returned Prisoner's of War to Sydney Harbour on 13th October 1945 from Nagasaki where Doug Curby (father of Carol Sharpe) had been imprisoned in the Miike Coal Mine at Fukouka 17 POW Camp in Omuta Province near Nagasaki. 

Doug survived the terror of the Japanese Concentration Camps at Changi, and on the Thai-Burma Railway and in the coal mines at Nagasaki with some of the worst that the Japanese Imperial Army could throw.

The first of our family in Australia was born in 1799 and was on the convict ship "Speedy" during its passage to New South Wales. His mother died on the ship soon after Josephus' birth. 

Also on board Speedy was the new Governor for New South Wales, Philip Gidley King and his wife Anna who took care of the baby when his mother died. Reared in the shadows of Government House by Mrs King, Josephus' autobiography tells of the tumultuous early days in the colony and his later adventures on Pacific voyages. 

The Blackman Family left England on the ship "Canada" and on 14 Dec 1801 arrived at Sydney and were greeted by Governor King and stayed as his guests. In 1800 James Blackman had been ill and his doctors recommended a sea voyage. He was able to obtain a high recommendation from the Colonial Office, who were encouraging skilled people to migrate to the Colony of New South Wales. 

Johnathan Green and the other two men were “on the seventh day of May in the Forty First Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third” were sentenced to be hung by the neck until dead later the three men received a reprieve and were convicted at Essex Assizes for a term of life on 22 July 1801 and transported to New South Wales on the HMS Glatton.

Jane Bailey and George Bailey were married in 1829 at The English Church in Ireland and immigrated to Australia on board the ship "Trinidad" in November 1841. They settled at Oberon, New South Wales. A remarkable number of the Protestant families who settled in the shire, around Bullock Flat, Titania, Edith and Gingkin were related families who came as free settlers from northern Ireland, especially County Tyrone.

The Alfred arrived here in Sydney Cove on 15 January 1839.  Onboard was Sophia Maria Williams Burley, (aged 3) who arrived with her family as free settlers. Sophia Burley grew up in Paterson NSW and went on to marry Thomas Saxby at Dungog in 1854. Sophia and Thomas were the maternal Grandparents of Dorothy Irene Nelmes.

Thomas William Saxby arrived in Sydney Cove in 1841 at the age of 10 and grew up in Dungog.

The Moffatt, which arrived on Monday last, with Mr Marshall's Emigrants, brings a large addition to our labour-ing population, and of a description most useful to our settlers for the married people, who amount to forty nine couples, have only forty five children, whilst all the others are single men and women, farm laborers and ser-vants. It will be gratifying to those who have had their apprehensions excited by Dr Lang's pamphlet, to learn that there is by this ship no preponderance of Roman Catholics; but that, on the contrary, there are a few more Protestants than Catholics, and we should be glad to hail the increase in numbers of English agricul-turists, as an evidence that amongst those at home a greater desire to emigrate may have been excited. We understand the numbers of English and Irish Emigrants by this vessel are respectively 118 and 204 and that the majority of the whole 322 are Protestants. All the emigrants are being hired at good wages, and the demand for labour seems to exhibit itself more and more on the arrival of every vessel.

The Sydney Herald (NSW : 1831 - 1842) of Saturday 5 June 1841, Page 2. at: https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12869460?

William Thomas Francis Brazill arrived on the Kinnear with wife and family as free settlers on 23 April 1838 at the age of 23. He went on to be an Innkeeper (The Globe Inn) at Morpeth. William became a Carpenter but tragically died after an accident on scaffolding near Waratah tunnels. He is buried at Morpeth in the Family Vault. He died aged 54 leaving a widow and large family. See the story here

Joseph and Mary Ann Curby (nee Richards) were married at St George Hanover Square, London in 1827 and arrived in Australia 13th April 1842 on the ship "Louisa". Joseph built a business as a publican and auctioneer from his premises at Pitt Street, Sydney, near Market Street. 

Charlotte Curby (nee Holliday) b 1847 at Balmain and Francis Joseph Curby b 1840 in London (Came on “Louisa” 1842) were married at Sydney in September 1869. Charlotte's parents also lived in Balmain.

Her Mother, also Charlotte, was the youngest daughter of the late Joseph Fox of Woolwich, England and came to the colony in 1834, under the guardianship of Mr Stapleton, in the ship Clyde (Captain Hyland).  

The Gulnare arrived at Sydney Cove via Hobart Town in 1834 with the Holliday Family onboard as free settlers. Charles Holliday was 19. He married Charlotte Fox and their daughter Charlotte (m. Curby) was born in 1847 at Balmain. They resided in Balmain East for the rest of their lives and had 11 children. There were also 54 grandchildren and 68 great grandchildren. 

Her Australian career began as a convict ship in a voyage to Sydney in 1837. She then served as an emigrant ship making voyages to Sydney in 1840. On 8 April 1844 she sailed from Deptford with 165 emigrants on board, including the Hancock Family. Most emigrants were in receipt of special government grants designed to subsidise settlement in the colonies. Successful candidates were families, single men 'of good character' and a smaller number of single women aged between eighteen and thirty, who had been in domestic or farm service. The Illustrated London News reported on 13 April 1844 that “The future well being and respectability of the colony mainly depends on the good conduct of the working classes." 

The “Lady Ann” left England on 25 June 1854 and arrived in New South Wales on 29 Sept 1854. The NSW Assisted Immigration passenger list records James Olds as departing from either Bideborough, Somerset or from Redruth, Cornwall, and arriving in Australia on 3rd October 1854. The Lady Ann was carrying 288 passengers: 183 men, 49 women, 32 boys, 24 girls, and there were no deaths aboard the journey. 

James Olds married Philadelphia Jenkin in Sydney on 4 October 1856. 

James and Philadelphia were the Grandparents of Sylvia Bailey (nee Olds). Sylvia married Victor Bailey and they were the parents of Merle Sharpe (Nee Bailey)

Onboard the Cressy was Philadelphia Jenkin who arrived in Sydney from London in January 1856. 

The Cressy was a very small ship 634 tons old measurement and 720 tons new measurement
The voyage in 1856 was from London via Plymouth to Sydney and it carried assisted immigrants. 

Philadelphia is twenty one years old and listed as a housemaid from Cornwell. She married James Olds who had arrived in Sydney in 1854 and is listed as a blacksmith, also from Cornwell.. 

At the height of its fame in 1856, the Light of the Age was described as a "splendid first class clipper". It was fitted out with lavish amenities, such as an ornately decorated day cabin for the ladies and a dining table, some 30 feet in length, in the main saloon. The ship regularly transported first class passengers from England to Australia. One of these passengers, Annie Ford, described musical evenings in the saloon ladling mulled port and eating fancy biscuits. 

The ancestors of Elizabeth Sharpe, Sarah Ann Iredale onboard the Light of the Age in 1856 and Henry R French onboard the City of Sydney in 1865, were married in Sydney in November 1865. 

Charles and Caroline Jane Nelmes (nee Warner) sailed to Australia aboard the ‘Northampton’ arriving 7th November, 1881 with their three sons. Frederick Guilford, Arthur Reginald and Archibald Granville a baby. (Dorothy Nelmes is the Mother of Doug Sharpe)

On 13 February 1902, Athenic sailed from London on her maiden voyage to Wellington via the Canary Islands, Cape Town and Hobart. Athenic served as a troop ship during World War 1. She sailed across the globe, sailing per convoy by way of Hobart, Albany, Colombo, Aden and finally arriving in Alexandria to disembark soldiers on 3 December 1914. She was the largest troopship ever sent from New Zealand transporting New Zealand forces to the Middle East. She remained on the New Zealand route until the outbreak of World War 2. 

The Garnon Family departed London and arrived in Sydney onboard Athenic for military service in 1915. [Peggy Hancock (nee Garnon), Mother of Jill French (nee Hancock), Mother of Elizabeth Sharpe]

This is a photo of the Grosser Kurfurst at Sydney Harbour. The ship was built for the North German Lloyd of Bremen. She started her maiden voyage to Southampton and New York from Bremen on May 5, 1900. She then was on the Australia route then back to the New York route in 1914. She was seized by the US authorities in 1917 and renamed the AEOLUS. Later sold and renamed the CITY OF LOS ANGELES.

On 27 December 1902, George and Caroline Spowart arrived in Sydney from London with their children, including a daughter, also named Caroline, who married Frederick Curby in Sydney in 1912. Frederick and Caroline Curby are the Grandparents of Caroline Sharpe (nee Curby)

Jim French's grandparent's moved from the fishing village of Buckie, Scotland in 1927 and sailed to Sydney onboard the steam ship Themistocles. Jim and Jill French (nee Hancock) married in 1969. The Hancock family had sailed from England on the sailing ship "St Vincent" in 1844.

SS Themistocles was a UK steam ocean liner and refrigerated cargo ship. She was launched in 1910 in Ireland and scrapped in 1947 in Scotland. She was built for Aberdeen Line, White Star Line managed her for a few years, and she spent the latter part of her career with Shaw, Savill & Albion Line.  Themistocles was a troop ship in the First World War and also served in the Second World War.  Aberdeen Line named some of its ships after classical Greek people and events. Themistocles was a general and politician in Classical Athens in the fifth century BC.

The SS Miltiades arrived in Sydney from London in September 1914 with Walter Nelson Wakeling onboard, aged 21.

In 1915 Walter Nelson Wakeling joined the Australian 19 Infantry Battalion - 1 to 13 Reinforcements (May 1915 - July 1916) during World War 1. Walter departed Sydney on His Majesty's Australian Transport  (HMAT) Runic. 

In 1917, he married Lilian Amy Ada Robbins in London and they returned to Sydney. Walter and Lilian were the parents of Dorothy Curby (nee Wakeling/Pamment). Dorothy was the mother of Caroline Sharpe (nee Curby).

Walter Nelson Wakeling was prominent in the Australian Union Movement and politics.

(Industrial Arbitration (Amendment) Act, 1918.)

IN PURSUANCE of section 90 of the Industrial Arbitration Act, 1912. as inserted by the Industrial Arbitration (Amendment) Act, 1918, and the regulations thereunder, I, Ernest Henry Farrar, Minister for Labour and Industry for the time being administering the said Act, do hereby amend the constitution of the Central State Labour Exchange as published in the New South Wales Industrial Gazette for the month of August, 1924 (see XXVI, I.G. 133) by adding after the words "and Warringah" the following words "except the locality of the wharves in and around Port Jackson, Sydney,"

I have also constituted and established a Waterside State Labour Exchange at No. 8 Hickson Road, Sydney, for the locality of the wharves in and around Port Jackson, Sydney; and have appointed Mr. Walter Nelson Wakeling (Secretary of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Waterside Workers' Union of New South Wales), as the Agent of the Waterside State Labour Exchange.

E. H. FARRAR,
7th January, 1925. Minister for Labour and Industry.

SYDNEY
Printed and Published by Alfred James Kent. Government Printer, Phillip-street, 7th January, 1925.

NEW LABOUR BUREAU - RETURNED MEN AWAITING RECOGNITION.

SYDNEY, Wednesday. There were far-reaching results today in the maritime strike. A special gazette issued by the Bruce Ministry established, under the Arbitration Act, .the Waterside Labour Exchange, and. his appointed an Agent of the new exchange, Mr. W.N. Wakeling, Secretary of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Watertside Workers' Union. No development is reported involving the recognitlon by shipplng companies of the new exchange. Mr. Wakeling said today that all work on the waterfront had been given to returned men; therefore, the stoppage of coastal steam ship service in New South Wales had been averted for the present.

SUPPORT MEANS SUCCESS
The ultimate success of the new bureau depends in a great measure on the amount of rapport accorded it by ship owners. According to the Secretary of the Overseas Shipping Association (Mr. Seale), the new bureau has not yet been recognised by the overseas companies.' It could not be ascertained from officials of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Union what amount of support had been received. Mr. Seale said the overseas line picked up the labour required to-day at the wharf gates, but no direct application had been made to the new bureau. Of the men who we're engaged, it was not known whether they were members of the Waterside Workers' Federation of Soldiers' Organisation.

COMPANIES TIMID

Interest will be centred in this position tomorrow, as the new bureau has been constituted as a labour exchange and it is considered that it will be obligatory on ship owners to apply there for labour. If this is done, it is contended by the Waterside Workers' Federation that the terms of the Melbourne agreement will be broken. It is stated that the new exchange has 1500 men available. 

Apparently companies today were dubious about accepting labour from the new bureau, fearing that they might be breaking their agreement with the Waterside Workers' Federation.

Mr Wakeling today referring to the Premier's (Sir George Fuller) statement that he would standby the returned soldiers said "Thank God we have a man prepared to stand by his convictions."

Source - Maryborough Chronicle, 8 January 1925.

NEW BUREAU.

MINISTRY'S ACTION
OWNERS' ATTITUDE IN DOUBT.
Events, far-reaching in their possibilities, moved rapidly yesterday with the closing of the Overseas Shipping Labour Bureau, the bureau which the State Government has made available to the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union at No. 8 Hickson road, on the western side of Circular Quay, was opened yesterday morning at an early hour. Big crowds of men, all of a good stamp, were in and about the bureau practically the whole of the day. The labour, which was thus freely forthcoming was registered. The union, it is stated, has at command the labour of 1600 men, but It, as a result of the establishment of the now Waterside State Labour Exchange, and the strengthening, of the union's hands as a consequence of the action of the State Cabinet, the returned men are unable to cope with the waterfront requirements, they will augment their ranks by the addition of other returned men, who have made application to join the union.

In the light of yesterday's move by the State Cabinet, and with the establishment of the new bureau, the returned men view the outlook most hopefully. The declaration In a speech at the bureau yesterday by the Secretary of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union (Mr. W.N. Wakeling). that "the whole of the work on the Sydney waterfront has been given to us," was warmly applauded. The bureau was bare of appointments yesterday, but with repairs which are to be effected and with several necessary fittings, it will soon wear a more inviting appearance. The union expresses its special indebtedness to Mr. G. A. Taylor for his practical efforts yesterday in assisting to establish the returned men comfortably at the new bureau. His activity was warmly appreciated by the executive of the union, including the president Mr. C. Isaacs), the secretary (Mr. W. N. Wakeling), and the treasurer (Mr. F. Evans). The Government, it is stated, unanimously agreed to an application for repairs to the bureau, which. Incidentally, was the picking-up place prior to the old bureau being established in Young-street. The repairs will total a little under £100. Through the offices of the town clerk, it is stated, the electric light was quickly installed, while an application for the installation of the telephone is being dealt with expeditiously. Until telephonic communication is established with the bureau, the telephone number of the State Labour Exchange, it is pointed out, is being used. Gas fittings, for the purposes of a canteen, will also make for the comfort of the men at the bureau.

Members of the committee, acting for the union, applied to the shipping companies during the morning for the allocation of members of the union; but they are apparently far from satisfied with the replies, which they describe as evasive. That the establishment, however, of the now Waterside Labour Exchange, and the consequent sympathetic backing of the State Cabinet, have given the returned men added heart to face the big struggle, was manifest from the reception which was accorded, to their secretary (Mr. Wakeling) when he addressed the men yesterday afternoon after a deputation from the executive of the union had attended a conference at the State Labour Exchange.

Mr. Wakeling, in the course of his speech, said they had gone along to the various shipping companies that day, but the companies did not seem to tolerate them too much. They were, he added, apparently dubious about accepting labour through the bureau because of a fear they were going to violate their agreement with the Waterside Workers' Federation.

The Premier (Sir George Fuller), on behalf of the State Cabinet, had stated on the previous day that he would stand by the returned soldiers to the last. (Applause.) "Thank God," added Mr. Wakeling, "we have got one man to stand by his convictions." (Applause.) He added that Sir George Fuller was supporting them right through, and they had the sympathetic support also of other members of the State Ministry. (Applause)

The Government sent word down to the Labour Exchange, asking it It could prepare something in an effort to meet the position. Following upon this, Mr. Belmore, of the Labour Exchange, laid a plan before the representatives of the union in the afternoon. Mr. Belmore said it would be necessary for members of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union to go to the Labour Exchange and be registered as returned sailor and soldier wharf-labourers.

"Without that ticket," Mr. Wakeling added to the big assemblage of men, you are useless. You have to go down there in the morning and register as returned sailor and soldier wharf-labourers."

Mr. Wakeling went on to say that a circular letter was being Issued by him to all the shipping companies in the Sydney area, in his capacity as agent of the Waterside State Labour Exchange, informing them that they were to recognise the bureau at 8 Hickson road as a sub-branch of the State Labour Exchange.

Mr. Wakeling proceeded to refer to the publication of the special "Gazette" that day, and said that any company which picked up labour without prevIously Consulting the bureau-now constituted a State Labour Exchange was committing a breach of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Employment Act, "The whole of the work on the Sydney waterfront has been given to us," added Mr. Wakeling, amidst loud applause.

"We have 1500 men on our roll call, but if they are, unable to cope with all the work I have been given power to advertise for more returned men to fill places."

Mr. Wakeling later again addressed the men. He said: "Go down here early to-morrow morning, at 7.30 o'clock, and I will send you along to the Labour Exchange. You will be picked upon the rotary system."

The ultimate fate of the new bureau depends in a great measure, upon the amount of support which it will receive from shippers and owners. According to Mr. N. C. Seale, secretary of the Oversea Shipping Representatives' Association, it has not yet been recognised by the oversea companies.

Mr. Seale stated that the oversea lines had picked up labour required yesterday at the wharf gates, but that no direct application for labour had been made to the now bureau. Of those who were so engaged It was not known whether they were members of the federation or of the soldiers' organisation.

Interest will be centred in this position to-day, as the new bureau has now been constituted a State labour exchange. It is thought that It will be obligatory upon the shipping companies to apply there for labour required. If this is done, the federation maintains that the terms of the Melbourne agreement will have been broken. The old shipping bureau has now ceased to function as an employment agency, but will be available to the former employees for recreation purposes until February 28.

It was stated after the executive meeting of the union last night that employment had been given to approximately 800 men during the day. Most of this was for ships that had not completed operations when the old bureau was terminated yesterday, and upon which the men had previously worked as permanent employees.

The executive of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union yesterday delivered to every company on the waterfront a circular, informing them of the establishment of the union at No. 8 Hickson-road, and stating that at that address the companies could secure all the labour they required.

Among those who called at the new bureau yesterday was Mr. T. G. Adamson, a retired farmer and grazier, of Tamworth, and a prominent patriotic worker in the Tamworth district. Mr. Adamson, who is hon, organising secretary of the Soldier Settlers' Association of the North-west, and hon seceretary of the Tamworth War Memorial, has offered his services in an honorary capacity to the executive of the returned men's union, if that organisation feels that he can be helpful to it at the present juncture. These men," said Mr. Adamson yesterday, have right and reason on their side, and to support and help them in this struggle is a duty we owe to them "

Source - Sydney Morning Herald, 8 January 1925.

RETURNED MEN - MORE REGISTRATIONS.

Officials of the State Waterside Labour Exchange said that they registered during the day about 98 men, including a number of members of the old labour bureau, who had not an opportunity of registering before, as they were carried over in their jobs obtained through the Shipping Labour Bureau. The number of men now registered totals 1100. There were 800 men at work on the various wharfs, and several calls were answered for men who are to start at 8 o'clock this morning.

Bureau men were working on the Tanda, Medic, City of Bagdad, Mnhla, Mattntua, Narginn, and Riol. Mr. Wakeling said that the exchange was in a position to handle and supply all the requirements of the shipping companies for the present. At the present juncture, therefore, there was no necessity to recruit labour from the country.

Dealing with the reports that certain returned soldiers had joined the federation, Mr. Wakeling stated that the executive considered that these men had not given the matter due consideration, and that in joining the federation they had camped in the wrong direction.

"Whilst the executive recognises," Mr. Wakeling said, "that the handling of 'black' ships in other ports is a matter that concerns the shipping companies, the executive have decided to institute a campaign throughout Australia for the purpose of of bringing into line the whole of the returned soldiers in the Commonwealth."

The steamer Re d'Italia did not sail, as was reported yesterday. She is advertised to sail on January 19. The agents notify that her proposed ports of call will be Melbourne and Hobart. The vessel will load at Hobart the wool secured by Italian buyers, and will not in any circumstances make any wool intended for the Largs Bay or any other steamer.

Source - Sydney Morning Herald, 15 January 1925.

WHARF LABOR PREFERENCE TO RETURNED SOLDIERS.

SYDNEY.— Mr. Wakeling, Secretary of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union, and members of his executive on Tuesday interviewed Captain McKenzie, manager of the Commonwealth line, and Mr. Carr, of the Austral Stevedoring Co., which provides wharf labor for the Commonwealth line. The question of employment of returned soldiers was discussed. It was stated later that a satisfactory agreement had been arrived at

Mr. Bavin, Attorney-General, left on Tuesday night to consult with Mr. Bruce, the Price Minister, regarding the matter of preference to returned soldiers on the wharfs.

Source - The Age, 21 January 1925

MR. WAKELING RESIGNS - Mr. W. N. Wakeling, secretary of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors' Waterside Workers' Union, yesterday tendered his resignation as agent of the Waterside State Labour Exchange, on the ground that the work seriously interfered with his secretarial duties.

Mr. Wakeling said that members of his union whole-heartedly concurred in the course he was taking. "The Government, realising the responsibilities and duties which both organisations entail, have accepted my resignation," said Mr. Wakeling. "It is possible that a Government official will take over the duties of agent almost immediately.

This will leave me free to carry on the campaign, which my union is putting into operation. We have at the present time at least 700 members, fully engaged on the waterfront. Yesterday I was called upon to supply labour to the number of 280 men, and to-day my calls have exceeded 200 men."

Source - Sydney Morning Herald, 23 January 1925

BITTER HOSTILITIES.
SOLDIERS FIGHT FOR PREFERENCE.
ANOTHER WATERSIDE WAR ANTICIPATED.
PROSECUTION FOR FIRMS DISREGARDING THE ACT.

WORK TO BE APPLIED FOR ON COASTAL SHIPS.

Bitter hostilities between the Waterside Workers' Federation and the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Waterside Union in Sydney are feared as a result of important decisions reached today by the Returned men's organisation. The executive of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Waterside Union held a special meeting today and resolved to immediately prosecute all shipping companies who defaulted in the observance of the State law of preference to former sailors and soldiers. The executive further decided to enlarge the scope of action of the Returned Mens' Union, by applying for work on interstate and coastal shipping Services, which, hitherto, have been left exclusively to the Waterside Workers' Federation.

In an official statement, the Secretary of the Returned Men's Union (Mr. Wakeling) said the executive had been compelled to take a definite stand, and in doing so they were influenced by the fact that it had the solid support of the State Ministry in the question of preference. The union,.he said, was prepared to stand or fall by the vigorous policy decided upon. The union considered the tactics of the' Waterside Sailors' Federation had failed. The Returned Men's Union was now about to institute a campaign that would overcome the obstacles placed in its way by the Federation and defaulting stevedoring companies. The difficulties encountered with some of the picking up officials, said , Wakeling, were known by the union' to be due to the fact that some of these officials were, or had been, associated with the Federation, and were claimed to be deliberately flouting the Federal Preference Act. The extension of the operations of the Returned Soldiers' and Sailors' Waterfront Union to inter-state and coastal services will create a new phase in the dispute with the Watersiders' .Federation. The quarrel between the Federation and the former Shipping Labour Bureau, out of which the present situation had developed, had involved only overseas shipping, as interstate shipping companies had long ago disbanded their loyalist workers. Now, with vital matters in course of adjustment, and trade returning to normal, interstate services will, by this latest development be dragged Into the between the Federation and the Returned Men's Union. The executive of the Federation will immediately consider a counter move.

Source - Queensland Times - 10 February 1925.

WHARF WORK.

SOLDIERS' UNION.
To Enforce Preference.
RECOURSE TO THE LAW.

The policy to be pursued by the Returned Soldiers' Waterside Workers Union was outlined at the first annual meeting of the union on Wednesday night. The. executive's decision to present a number of the shipping companies, which, it is alleged, are not giving preference to returned soldiers on the waterfront was endorsed. It was further added that unless notice is received from the Waterside Workers' Federation recognising the bureau by the end of the week, certain pending prosecutions will be proceeded with.

An official report of proceedings yesterday showed that counsel had already been briefed to proceed with the prosecutions where necessary. Respecting the operations of the bureau, the report stated that the membership of the union had increased fivefold since it started in September last. Its present strength indicated that the union would be a big deciding factor in the settlement of the struggle The unsatisfactory state of affairs at the picking-up points, it was pointed out, was not always the fault of the stevedoring companies. In many instances the picking-up officials, owing to their past and present relations with the federation, had been unjust to the bureau men in the matter of selecting labour. The union was determined to bring such an unfair position to it close. We are going to insist upon a continuance of the State Labour Exchange, of which the Government has approved, the report added.

The union Is further determined to make the adoption of the rotary system the first
plank of its platform. The election of office-bearers for the ensuing 12 months resulted-President, F. Tully; vice-president, T. R. Goodman; secretary, W. N. Wakeling; assistant secretary and organiser, W. C. Duffy; treasurer, F. Evans; trustees, I. Croedy and A. N. Pearce; executive, Messrs. T. O'Keefe, D. Duncan, W. Norman, J. Wills, and J. McMillan.

Provision was made for the appointment of sufficient vigilant officers to be within call at every wharf where members of the union are employed. The object of this. it is stated, is to combat any Intimidation tactics that may be put into operation by the officers or members of the federation.

Source - Sydney Morning Herald, 13 February 1925.

THE WATERFRONT.

Returned Soldiers.
UNION DISSOLVED.
MEN JOIN FEDERATION.

Most of the executive officers of the Returned Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union, with the majority of the members of that body, joined the Waterside Workers' Federation during the week-end.

This action means that the Returned Soldiers' Bureau ceases to a function as a potent maritime body, and, consequently, restores peace on the waterfront.

To those who have watched the progress of events on the waterfront recently the action of the returned soldiers did not come as a surprise. The numerical strength of the body had weakened considerably within the past few weeks owing to many of its members having decided to join the rival organisation.

The officials of the union realised the insecurity of the union's position, but decided to continue until it was known the extent to which their claims for preference could be taken "We shall do nothing until we know the result of our police court case, which we regard as a test case. If that goes against us we shall close our doors." said a point near official of the soldiers'' organisation in outlining the policy of the union a fortnight ago.

When their action for the prosecution of a stevedoring company which, they alleged, had committed a breach of the Returned Soldiers' Preference Act failed, the men considered the "game was up," as one of them put it, and resolved to link up with the federation.

Another factor considered by the men in arriving at their decision was the increasing amount of dissension which is generally known to have existed among the executive officers for some time past, The culminated towards the end of last week in the resignations of the president (Mr. Tully) and the secretary (Mr. Wakeling).

RUSH FOR ENROLMENT.

At the invitation of the committee of management a large body of returned men assembled at the federation's rooms in Day street early on Saturday morning. They filed into the meeting hall and submitted their names for admission to the federation. 

The application was made before a large body of federation men. who crowded the hall. Unless the qualifications of the applicant were challenged by an onlooker he received his metal disc, paid his membership fee, and was duly elected a federation member. With the exception of two or three men whose applications were set aside for further investigation, all those who presented themselves totalling about 200 were admitted to membership. It is understood that the federation will keep its books open for a day or two to allow those who are not yet members to join. There were many on Saturday whose duties on the wharfs prevented them from attending at the, federation rooms.

HONOURABLE CAPITULATION.
"We have made an honourable capitulation," said Mr. W. C. Duffy, late assistant secretary and organiser of the Returned Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union, who with the president (Mr. Tully) was among those to be admitted to the federation on Saturday.

"We have no hesitation in joining the federation because we now see that the union of the two bodies must be to the mutual advantage of both parties. The federation is extending to us its protection on conditions with which we are perfectly satisfied. Our recent police court case has showed that we cannot expect preference by virtue of the fact that we are returned soldiers. We will no longer look for it, but are quite content to take our chance with the rest. I think that the union, when it was in existence, served a definite and useful purpose. Now, however, we are under the wing of the federation I think the officials of that body will see that we will serve them as loyal members faithful to the end."

A SHORT LIVED CAREER.
The career of the Returned Soldiers'' Waterside Workers' Union was a short but exciting one. It replaced the old Shipping Labour Bureau, composed of 1917 loyalists, which was abolished in accordance with a decision of a conference at Melbourne convened by the Prime Minister. 

On that occasion the Oversea Shipping Representatives' Association gave an undertaking, which they carried out, that as from January 7, 1925, no labour, either permanent or casual, would be distributed on the wharfs by the bureau. Returned soldier members of the old bureau thereupon formed the Returned' Soldiers' Waterside Workers' Union, and, upon appealing to the Premier for recognition of their claims for preference as returned soldiers, were promised the support of the Government.

The result of the formation of the new organisation was to intensify the dispute which had occurred through the no overtime strike of the Waterside Workers' Federation. Much feeling existed between the rival factions, culminating in a free fight between them a few weeks ago. Mr. Farrar, Minister for Labour and Industry, and Mr. Bavin, Attorney-General, had several conferences with the parties, but the uncompromising attitude adopted by each rendered a reconciliation impossible.

Source - Sydney Morning Herald, 2 March 1925

Ready for the fight

Liverpool UAP

The workers in the Liverpool and Ingleburn subdivisions of the Werriwa electorate have opened committee rooms in Macquarie Street, Liverpool, and in Hewitt's Auction Rooms, John St, Cabramatta. Mr W.N. Wakeling, organiser in the subdivisions of Liverpool and Ingleburn is in charge of the Liverpool room, and Alderman J. Cook is the president of the movement in Cabramatta.

Preliminary meetings have been held by the U.A.P. branches throughout the subdivisions and a strong campaign committee has been formed to work on behalf of the candidate T.D. Mutch. President of the general campaign executive of the district is Alderman A.F. Camkin and the position of joint treasurer and secretary is filled by Mr U.G. Kibby of Canley Vale.

Although open air meetings had already been held in Liverpool and Cabramatta, it was not until last Tuesday that Mr Mutch officially opened his campaign at both those towns.

Alderman Fitzpatrick presided at the meeting held in the Liverpool Town Hall, and Alderman J. Cook took the chair at Cabramatta.

Source – The Cumberland Argus, 23 August 1934

Launching a State Division and a Federal Party. (The Liberal Party)

The story of the emergent NSW division entered another stage with the first meeting of the State Council on Thursday 28 June 1945 at 7:30 PM held in Sargent’s Empire Room, Market Street, Sydney……………..

………..Bill Wakeling was the most experienced of the field officers. He might have “looked like a desert Arab” but in spite of, or partly because of that, he was already a legend. Wakeling had been a country organiser for the nationalists immediately after the First World War. The story goes that he once plastered Billy Hughs’ posters on the walls of brothels in Kings Cross. He later worked for the UAP and the DP, and his expanding specialties included electoral roll cleansing, scrutineering and knowledge of the various Electoral Acts. wakeling and another long serving field officer, AT Lenehan, were important to the Liberal Party in 1945. They not only brought experience to the job; they symbolised and strengthened continuity. For, with them, came the UAP's guidelines on electioneering and electoral law, it's advice on how to structure and set up a campaign, open and maintain branches, prepare budgets, arrange transport to the polls and advertise meetings.

Source - Page 59, Chapter titled “An Essentially New Political Organisation” – From the book titled: The Liberals: NSW Division 1945-2000 by Ian Hancock.

Ashfield poll irregularities alleged:

Attempts at double voting reported. Additional irregularities were allegedly discovered in the voting at the Ashfield by-election yesterday.

It was in this electorate that Liberal Party officials alleged on Thursday that the names of dead people had been placed on the roll. Scrutineers yesterday kept a close watch on all who applied for ballot papers and reported irregularities to Party headquarters. Their reports included: A man who applied for a vote was challenged but given a vote. 

Later his name was found to be on the roll as a postal voter. A man's vote was challenged by scrutineers because he was marked on the roll as a postal voter. He was given a vote, but later the poll clerk admitted that the man's name appeared on a list of postal voters who had already voted.

At Summer Hill school polling booth a man applied for a ballot paper, saying his name had been removed from the roll. When asked to make a declaration he did so, but refused to sign it and left the booth without voting.

A woman who attempted to vote at Regent's Park booth was told she had already voted by post.

She denied this and lodged a complaint. Another woman voter found that somebody else had voted in her name. She established her bona fides and was allowed to vote. She later told A.L.P. organisers that a similar occurrence occurred in the recent Federal election, but, on that occasion she was not allowed to vote.

Careful Policing:
Liberal Party organisers carefully policed the voting at the Auburn and Ashfield by-elections for seats in the Legislative Assembly. At each polling place, a Liberal Party scrutineer sat at each table and double-checked each voter with the poll clerk and returning officer. Each scrutineer had a prepared list of possible irregular voters.

Last night Liberal Party officials said that many residents in the two electorates had informed scrutineers that persons listed on the roll no longer resided in the district. One householder notified the organisers that four people who had never resided in the district were listed on the rolls as living at his house.

Mr. Haylen, M.H.R. (Lab., Parkes) said last night that Liberal organisers had represented themselves to electors as electoral officers. Liberal Party chief organiser W. Wakeling said this statement was untrue. He said that every man in the Liberal Party's team of scrutineers had been specially picked, trained, and fully instructed about approaching electors.

They all revealed their identity as Liberal Party assistants immediately they approached electors.

Hotels Open:
Polling in bcth Ashfield and Auburn was quiet. Returning officers reported a steady stream of voters, but no "incidents." Hotels in both electorates were open, but there was no rowdyism or argument. Police were on duty at all polling booths.

Source - The Daily Telegraph, 10 November 1946

LIBERALS CLAIM LISTS NAME MANY ABSENTEES:

Libera! Party organisers last night claimed that some rolls for Saturday's elections -contained thousands of names of people who did not live in the electorates. The organisers said these rolls were for six electorates in western and eastern suburbs. The organiser for Watson (Mr. A. T. Lenehan) said the roll for Coogee. contained 968 names of people who had left the electorate, and 60 names of dead men and Women.

The Western Suburbs organiser (Mr. W. Wakeling) said that on rolls for Concord, Dulwich Hill, Drummoyne; Lane Cove, and Ashfield, there were 4100 names of people who had left those electorates.

Organisers have instructed scores of special scrutineers to use marked rolls in polling booths on Saturday to prevent people voting if they are not entitled to vote.

Died Vears Ago:
Mr. Lenehan said: "Our investigators found in Coogee that several of the 60 dead people had died two, three, or four years ago. "They found that 1047 people were not living at the addresses given in the new rolls." Of these, 79 were living in other parts of the electorate but 968 of them had left, the area permanently. "Some of these left the Coogee electorate more than a year ago, 53 had gone to live in other States, and 26 had left to live overseas." "In our investigation, We found 360 people in Coogee who are not on the roll, although some have lived there for several years.

"On Saturday, we will have 100 special scrutineers in polling booths to challenge people not entitled to vote to ensure that there is no double-voting. "These scrutineers will have 43 specially marked rolls which our investigators have prepared to help them in that job."

"Many Dead"
Mr. Wakeling said: "There are on the Concord roll 800 names of people not entitled to vote for that electorate, 1000 in Dulwich Hill, 1000 in Drummoyne, 1000 in Lane Cove, and 300 in Ashfield.

"Many of these people are dead, and others left the electorates months ago. "We are providing scrutineers with marked rolls on Saturday to challenge people if they are not entitled to vote.

"Anyone who votes on Saturday with out being entitled to a vote will be very lucky."

Both organisers said they had given information to divisional electoral officers, who were helping to clean-up the rolls for Saturday.

Special Squads
The organisers obtained their information by sending special squads of men throughout electorates to make house-to-house checks with the new rolls. The Government printing office printed the rolls last month. The Electoral Act allows party scrutineers in polling booths to challenge electors, but the presiding Returning Officer is the only one with power to refuse a person a vote.

The Act provides that an elector can not, vote for candidates in an electorate where he once lived if he has left it permanently for at least three months before the polling, day. If an elector -makes a statutory declaration that his name is not on a roll, because of a mistake, the Act entitles him to a vote. 

Penalty, 3 Months:
The penalty for making! a false declaration is three months' jail. The Act places on electors responsibility of advising Electoral Officers if they change their address permanently. If electors do not do this within seven weeks of changing their address permanently, they are liable to a fine of 10/ for the first offence and £2 for every subsequent offence.

Source - The Daily Telegraph, 30 April 1947

Harrison, M.P. In Car Crash:
On Steep Hillside The Deputy Leader of the Federal Opposition, Mr. E. J. Harrison, was a passenger in a car which was involved in a collision on the Gosford road last night.

No one was injured. The other car moved on, but its' driver later reported to the police.

Mr. Harrison was returning to Sydney from Maitland, where he had addressed a meeting of protest against bank nationalisation. With him were Mrs. Harrison and a Liberal Party organiser, Mr. W. Wakeling, driver of the car.

The collision occurred about 9.30 p.m., when the party was half-way between Gosford and the Hawkesbury River Bridge. Mr. Wakeling, who was driving his own car, said that the car after the collision hit a safety fence with terrific force. Below the fence was a drop of several hundred feet.'

"HIT SOMETHING"
One mudguard was crushed, and an imprint of fencing could be seen on the side of the car. Later last night Gosford police told Mr. Harrison that a car driver had called at the police station and reported having "hit something on the road" near Mooni Creek. Thc driver said he had stopped some distance farther on, but. failing to see any other car on the road, he had continued to Gosford.

Source - The Daily Telegraph, 30 September 1947

Court Sequel to Domain Incidents

A request that Mr. Harris SM leave the Bench in favor of another magistrate and a charge that Police Prosecutor Sergeant Maizey was pre-judging the issue marked the opening of a hearing of "unlawful assembly" charges against 14 men at Central Court on Monday.

The charges arose out of incidents which it is alleged took place in the Domain in March last year, when Mr. E. D. Darby, MLA and Mr. A. Bridges, MLC, appealed for volunteers to unload potatoes from ships in Sydney.

Men charged are wharf labourers David Neall, Edward Hamilton, Henry Wright, Stanley Moran, Evan Roberts, Jack Brabston, Ian Ferguson, Mervyn Pidcock and Reuben Smith, seamen Geoffrey Wills and Frederick Smith, and union organisers Frederick Sheaves, Eric Aarons and Kenneth O'Hara.

When Sergeant Maizey referred to the case of Bernard O'Sullivan, recently sentenced to one month for unlawful assembly on the same day and at the same place, Mr. W. Knight, for the defendants, "strenuously objected."

"Prejudice" Attempt Alleged
"The prosecutor has no right to refer to the O'Sullivan case—he is endeavoring to prejudice the Court and I must ask you not to hear the case," said Mr. Knight to Mr. Harris SM.

Mr. Knight said that Sergeant Maizey had deliberately put it that the 14 defendants were in the same position as another man. Mr. Harris declined to leave the Bench. He said that he was not affected by what had been said and would give the men a fair hearing. Inspector Caldwell (No. 4 Division) said he heard Wills speaking through a microphone while sitting in a sedan car parked in the Domain. Wills had said, "They're starting up again over there; come and stop them."

A large crowd then moved with the sedan car to where Bridges and Darby were holding a meeting. A struggle began between these people and the police. Witness saw Coote at grips with Pidcock. He got them both to their feet with the assistance of Constable Pidcock was taken to the call box and later removed to police station with six other men. Sergeant L. Jones said O'Hara called Darby "a scabby fascist" and a "scaberder." He arrested O'Hara .and while he was being taken away he continued to call out "Darby the scabby fascist—down with scabby fascists." "Only a Strike-breaker" He also asked Sgt. Jones why he didn't "pinch" Darby because he was "only a strike breaker and a scabby fascist."

Detective Townsend said he heard Wills say over a microphone, "Darby is a scabby fascist—don't let organise scab labor—bash the volunteers." Detective Townsend denied that a lady was with O'Hara when he was arrested.

Arthur Rayment, manufacturer's agent, who said he went to the meeting and helped erect a rostrum for Darby and Bridges, told Mr. Knight he didn't know that wharf labourers had been asked to attend the meeting.

Liberal Party organiser, Walter Wakeling, 2 Richmond Avenue, Ashfield, said he was in charge of the meeting. He heard a voice say,-"Let's smash this bloody scabs' meeting up.'" He also heard menacing shouts from a large crowd. He recognised Moran, Brabston and O'Sullivan—Brabston upended Darby and the rostrum and O'Sullivan "cracked" a fellow. He. didn't see what Moran did.

The case is part-heard. Mr, W. J. Knight (instructed by Collie Smith and Company) for all defendants.

Source - Tribune, 2 June 1948

Premier on Kogarah Chances:

"I am confident the people of Kogarah will be glad of the opportunity to show their resentment towards the Liberal Party for having misled them," the Premier (Mr. McGirr) said today. "I have no doubt that Mr. Oxford will win by a comfort able majority."

Mr. McGirr. added that rising costs of foodstuffs were the result of the No vote in the Prices referendum, and Mr. Treatt and his colleagues would be held responsible for the part they had played in misleading the people. The Liberal Party, he said, were rejected by the people for their bungling of Budgets and their imposition of dole and relief-work conditions upon the workers of the State.

Liberal Party organiser (Mr. W. Wakeling) said today: "The Kogarah by-election is a woman's war.

"I haven't seen women take such an interest in the political issue since the 1932 depression. "The women are prepared to battle for better conditions. "One woman who offered her services said she'd rather work hard all day at the committee rooms or trudge the district canvassing than freeze at home.'"

Source - The Sun, 15 July 1948

Liberals' Drive At By-Election:

The Liberal Party will send to the Concord electorate this week speakers, canvassers, and committee-room assistants in a planned drive to win the by-election on Saturday.

The organiser in charge of the campaign- (Mr. : Wakeling) said last night that the influx would include practically, every member of the State Parliamentary Liberal Party. He said that on Friday sandwich-men carrying the Party's propaganda posters and ringing cow-bells would parade important shopping centres in the electorate.

Labor officials said yesterday that ' they were "quietly confident" of holding the seat. The organising secretary of the A.L.P. (Mr. E. Wright) and the N.S.W. campaign, director (Mr. W. E. Dickson, M.L.C.) have concentrated on the last week of the campaign in which the Premier (Mr. McGirr) and several State Labor members will take part.

Source - The Daily Telegraph, 8 March 1949

Loud Speaker Ban Policed:

Police stopped Labour campaigners in the Burwood by-election campaign from using eight amplifiers at 17 street meetings yesterday. The meetings were arranged in support of the Labour candidate, Mr. Cliff Mallam. The by-election, due to the death of Mr. H. R. Jackett (Liberal), will be held on Saturday, June 2.

A police sergeant and constable on a police motorcycle and sidecar visited each meeting and told the Labour organisers that the Liberal Party had objected to the meetings under an ordinance of the Strathfield and Burwood Municipal Councils, which said that public address systems were not allowed in the streets of those municipalities.

The Labour organisers complied with the police direction, but removed their loudspeakers to the boundaries of the Burwood electorate at Cook's River, Concord Road, Homebush, and Croydon, where they delivered their amplified speeches.

MOVED TO BORDER
In Burwood itself, however, they spoke from platforms without the aid of the amplifiers. Mr. Mallam, referring to the police intervention, said: "It seems hard that I should not be allowed to convey my message properly to the electors of Burwood. "With only a fortnight to go I should be allowed to have a quick concentration on street meetings, supported by loud-speakers. "Next Saturday, if necessary, our supporters will speak from boxes at short intervals along the main street."

LIBERAL STRATEGY
The divisional organiser for the Liberal Party, Mr. W. N. Wakeling, said last night that his party was told on Friday night that loud-speakers were banned by Strathfield and Burwood councils. "But loud-speakers are not banned in Concord-on the opposite side of Parramatta Road to Burwood," he said. "We put out loud-speakers on the Concord side and bombarded them across the border."

N.S.W. Liberal Party and Opposition Leader, Mr. Vernon Treatt, will officially open the party's campaign in Strathfield Town Hall tomorrow night.

Source - The Sun Herald, 20 May 1951

Local Liberals To Attend Conference:

A group of Liberal Party supporters from Singleton led by Mr. A. C. Marshall will attend the party's Hunter Valley Regional Conference in Newcastle on November 8. The conference will be the first of its kind held in the Hunter Valley. It is expected that the conference will become a regular feature if branches support the move. Organiser in the Paterson Division, Mr. W. N. Wakeling has been interviewing supporters in the district.

Motions of political, cultural and agricultural importance will be put before the Conference by local representatives. Member for Paterson, Mr. Allen Pairhall, and a number of other Federal members will be present at the conference.

Source - Singleton Argus, 31 October 1951

Late news from Bradfield: Liberal Party organiser W. N. Wakeling, driving from Bradfield Park to Lindfield on. Saturday (polling day) saw a fellow walking along the side of the road. He stopped, offered the fellow a lift,, and launched into praise of H. B. Turner, telling the fellow that Turner was the man for the number one vote.

His passenger stopped him in mid-sentence with: "I'm afraid you're wasting your time. I'm Simons, one of the Independent candidates."

Source - The Daily Telegraph, 23 December 1952

In Sydney 1970, Walter Nelson Wakeling was awarded as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to politics.

W.N. Wakeling was the Father of Dorothy Curby (nee Wakeling/Pamment). Dorothy Curby was the Mother of Caroline Curby who married Ron Sharpe OAM.

See how we grow over 11 generations since 1799 - the Sharpe Family Tree here