West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 27 October 1953, page 4


Two Warships At Fremantle

"Show The Flag" On her way to Korea for a six-month tour of duty, the aircraft-carrier H.M.A.S. Sydney arrived at Fremantle yesterday morning.

She was escorted by the Tribal-class destroyer Bataan, which is accompanying her as far as Singapore. In drizzling rain a crowd of about 400 waited on the quay-side at North Wharf as the two warships berthed. The crowd consisted of parents, wives, children and sweethearts

of those serving aboard the Syd-ney and Bataan. As soon as the two men-of-war berthed, the West Australian '"liberty men" were given shore leave. With the ocean minesweepers Fremantle and Junee and the boom-defence vessel Karangi in port, the Royal Australian Navy was given a first-class opportun-ity to 'show the flag" in W.A. waters. With merchant vessels lining the wharves, the port presented a busy appearance yesterday. 'Second Tour With Sea Fury and-Firefly air-craft lining the after end of her flight deck, the Sydney, under the command of Capt. G. C. Oldham berthed with the aid of the tugs Yuna and Wato. The Bataan, which is on her first visit to the port, berthed im-mediately afterwards astern of the carrier. The Sydney is bound for her second tour of duty in Korean waters and some of her pilots are also Korean veterans. The destroyer, commanded by Commander W. S. Bracegirdle, has already done two extended tours in Korean waters. After Singapore, she will call at Darwin and will then sail to Sydney, having cricumnavigat-ed Australia. The Bataan, which was the last destroyer of her class to be built, still shows damage to her for-ward superstructure and gun shields which was caused by heavy seas when, with H.M.A.S. Vengeance, she was stationed in the Tasman-Sea during he Lon-don-Christchurch air race, Both vessels will sail for Singa-pore at 9 a.m. today.