Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Frank Arthur Davey, the fourth child of Thomas Charles and Phyllis Maria Davey (nee Rollbusch) was born on the 15th September, 1909 in a nursing home at Rosewater. The family grew to be seven children but with the birth of the last child, Phyllis died just two days after the birth. Frank was just 7 years old at the time. It was then a matter of everyone working together to ensure the family continued to function. Young Frank’s task was to chop the wood and clean the glass of the lamps used at night. This was in the time before all homes had electricity.
Frank attended the local Methodist Church and Sunday School in his hometown of Birkenhead and also went to the local Le Fever Primary School, which was to honour him many years later.
In 1921, as a result of WWI, it was compulsory for all boys to be trained in one of the Services, so Frank chose to join the Navy Reserves part-time at Port Adelaide. By 1924 he and a school mate joined the Port Adelaide rowing club where all the training was done on water each Saturday and Sunday. Over the ensuing years, Frank successfully competed in several rowing events. Frank worked for Wallaroo-Mount Lyell Fertilisers Limited, and was active on the social committee, organising events such as the annual picnic at Gawler. He soon met a young girl, Eva whom he courted for some time with the pair eventually marrying on May 3rd, 1930. They were soon blessed with two beautiful daughters, Lois, born in 1931 and then Ann born in 1934.
With the outbreak of WWII, Frank was mobilised for war service on the 18th September 1939 as a Petty Officer, P.A. 139. His first ship was Morton Bay which sailed for Hong Kong on Melbourne Cup day, 1939. Frank spent some time in Hong Kong after his arrival, taking part in what was called ‘The Navy Ship Regatta’. He was instructed to get a crew of 10 together to enter the Rowing Cutter Race, which the group won. However, Frank suffered a hernia which needed surgery, but as the ship was leaving Hong Kong and heading for the North Atlantic, the seas were particularly rough, so the doctor delayed the operation until they reached the calmer waters of Moreton Bay, near South Africa. Frank was then put ashore to recover and wait for a ship to return him to Australia. Between November 1940 and December 1941, Frank spent considerable time on the HMAS Torrens, training new enlistees, then escorting them by train to Victoria ‘Cerberue’ in preparation for them to serve their duties. When Frank had recovered, he spent short periods on several ships, the first being a corvette, built in Whyalla, which was commissioned on the 12th January, in 1942. Frank was one of the original crew on this, but after a few months of being sea sick he left the ‘Whyalla’ when it was docked in Sydney Harbour. He was then drafted to HMS Kanimbla on May 30th 1942 – the same night the Japanese submarines entered Sydney Harbour. Frank, naturally as pleased he was ashore the night awaiting his transfer.
Once aboard Kanimbla Frank the proceeded to Fremantle where the next year was spent working with convoys in the Indian Ocean. Discipline was good on the Kanimbla, making it a happy ship, including a ‘Crossing the Line’ Ceremony. Frank spent Christmas day of 1942 in the Mid Indian Ocean. When the Kanimbla finally returned to Sydney in May of 1943, Frank was drafted to ‘Westralia’, a troop landing ship of 10,350 tons, designed to off-load barges contusing the Infantry troops. Frank endured a kamikaze attack in which a plane headed directly for Frank’s ship. Fortunately, it was winged by one of the gunners, causing it to spin off and explode about 200 yards from the ship. The only injury was to the gunner who sustained a shrapnel wound to his shoulder.
Following that encounter, Frank’s ship made its way to Milne Bay, New guinea before being drafted again back to Cerberus. On the long journey back, Frank’s next job was as an instructor for new entries into the Navy. Three months later, Frank was again drafted, this time to the supply ship, Mombah, a coal lighter that was needed in areas for refuelling. The Mombah was without its own power and was towed by a Navy Tug, Heros. At Newcastle, they loaded 3,000 tons of coal before heading to Darwin, then Thursday Island. It was here that Frank received a message that his wife, Eva was unwell, so he was sent home on compassionate leave. After a few months, Eva recovered, so Frank was then drafted to HMAS Platypus at Moratai, followed by another short stint on HMAS Bathurst before Frank returned as a bosun on the Platypus. For about six months he was moored mid harbour at Morotai where there were showing of films twice a week as well as being entertained by Gracie Fields.
The next time Frank went ashore was for the signing of the surrender papers. He still retained a copy of the Naval Messages from HMAS Napier, giving a stark insight into the US High Command in the last days of WWII. The first, on 14/8/45 states:
1. Have no idea if Japan has accepted the surrender or not.
2. Our present orders are to strike again tomorrow.
3. If the Japanese government has said they have surrendered, we cannot afford to relax for a second as we cannot trust any Japanese.
Then on the following day 15/8/45:
‘Cease hostilities against Japan’
And finally, on the 16/8/45:
‘With the termination of hostilities in Japan, it is encumbent on all officers to conduct themselves with dignity and decorum in their treatment of the Japanese in their public utterances in connection with the Japanese. The Japanese are still the same nature which initiated the war by a treacherous attack on the Pacific fleet and which has subjected our brothers in arms who became prisoners, to torture, starvation and murder, however the use of insulting epithets in connection with the Japanese as a race or as individuals does not now become the officers of the U.S. Navy. Officers of the Pacific Fleet will take steps to require of all personnel under their command a high standard of conduct. Neither Familiarity and open forgiveness or abuse and vituperation should be permitted.’
By late October, Frank left aboard the Platypus, finally arriving back in Adelaide in January 1946, being demobbed on June 6th 1946. Precious to him was a poem, ‘Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels’ written on October 14th 1942 at Dump 66 on the first range of the Owen Stanleys;
‘Many a mother in Australia when a busy day is done,
Sends a prayer to the Almighty for the keeping of her son,
Asking that an angel guide him and bring him safely back.
Now we see those prayers are answered on the Owen Stanley Track
For they haven’t any haloes, only holes flashed in their ears,
And their faces worked by tattoos, with scratch pins in their hair.
Bringing back the badly wounded, just as steady as a hearse,
Using leaves to keep the rain off and as gentle as a nurse.
Slow and careful in bad places on the awful mountain track,
The look upon their faces could make you think that Christ was black,
Not a move to hurt the wounded, as they treat him like a saint;
It’s a picture worth recording that an artist’s yet to paint.
Many a lad will see his mother, and husbands, wee’uns and wives,
Just because the Fuzzy Wuzzies carried them to save their lives
From mortar bombs, machine gun fire or a chance surprise attack.
May the mothers of Australia, when they offer up their prayer,
Mention those impromptu angels with the Fuzzy Wuzzy hair.’
Frank then returned to work at the Wallaroo Mt Lyell Fertilisers in 1946. With his deferred pay, in 1947 he was able to put a $300 deposit on a home in North Glenelg. By Easter of 1955 Frank and Eva bought their first Volkswagen and became foundation members of the V.W. Club which was formed in January of 1956, eventually becoming a Life Members of the Club. This led to what was to become a long-lasting friendship with Colin and Shirley Rickard, fellow VW enthusiast. The two couples become great friends, spending much time together. Colin had served in the Army during the War. Over the next few months this group was actively involved in events, trials and various car clubs as well as holiday weekends enjoying camping and fishing at Swan Reach. Over this time, Colin was being treatment for terminal Hodkinson’s Disease. Shirley and Colin had two years travelling overseas, but as Colin’s health declined, they returned to celebrate Colin’s 42nd birthday in Australia. The next several months were spent with Colin in and out of hospital. Eva, Frank’s wife, died in July 1963. Just two months later, Colin, sadly finally succumbed to Hodkinson’s on September 13th. Shirley was totally alone, no siblings or children of her own.
This brought Frank and Shirley closer together as he helped her cope with her loss. Over the following months this widow and widower came to realise their friendship could become something lasting. Later in November 1964 Shirley became a sailor’s wife. It wasn’t until sometime later that Frank revealed that Colin had asked that he look after Shirley, which he did, enabling the couple to have many more happy years together. Frank was also a life Member of the VW Club, with he and Shirley being described as the oldest and youngest Club Member at heart. Shirley and Frank became known as ‘The Toy Doctors’ repairing and renovating toys for children’s organisations.
Frank always remembered Anzac Day, taking part in the march, followed by the Navy reunion and lunch with his old ship-mates. In 2006 Frank’s old school Le Fevre celebrated its 150 years. Shirley and Frank’s daughter took Frank in a wheelchair on a tour of the school and his old classrooms. Later in the day he was given the honour of cutting the celebratory Cake, being the oldest living scholar, at 98 years of age. Sadly, Frank died in June 2006.
Shirley was again alone and today, aged 95 she lives at Port Elliot; still remembering all the happy years and times spent with her soldier boy and sailor boy. In her words, she “Loved them both, God Bless.”
Tribute researched and submitted by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133. Based on handwritten information and recollections provided by Shirley Davey, aged 95, Frank’s wife.