Shirley Anderson (nee Bence) was born in Bacchus Marsh at Quamby Hospital in 1927 and lived in Patterson Street with her mother, father and brother. She was about 13 years old when the Darley Military camp was first being built.
She vividly recalls the times when the camp was being built and how the inflow of construction and allied workers impacted on the community.
“Len Watkins, a civilian from Melbourne, was in charge of the builders of the camp.” “He stayed with us and asked if he could bring his caravan down so his wife Peggy could stay as well. He parked it up the driveway. They were a lovely couple.”
Local families opened their homes and provided friendship and shelter to not only men working at the camp, but also their wives.
“The American’s loved my mother’s scones, they called them cookies, and they called my mother Mum.”
We also learn about the lesser known bomb storage facility situated west of the township, which was managed by the Air Force. A Lion Park was established on the site many years latter using the former infrastructure of bunkers and storage vaults specially designed to store high explosive munitions.
Air Force Personnel responsible for guarding the Bomb Dump on the Pentland Hills, west of Bacchus Marsh during World War 2.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
“One air force man posted to the camp and worked at the bomb dump, Ken Bray from Newcastle N.S.W, used to spend evenings with the family, so he asked if his wife Dulcy could move in with us because they missed each other terribly. So Dulcy moved in too.”
Discover what people did for entertainment during the war years, the movies in the local theatre and the elaborate dances with homemade suppers held in the public hall.
“We all used to walk home from these dances, and we were never scared.”
Shirley recalls the cultural diversity of the young service men who came to Bacchus Marsh and provides little anecdotes on how some of them coped in this foreign land. She fondly remembers the American, Javanese and Dutch men and how the community and countryside had lasting impacts on the lives forever.
Javanese Serviceman working at the Darley Military Camp, Bacchus Marsh during World War 2.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
At the Homefront, the community workforce was also changing and for the first time many women undertook jobs traditionally performed by men. Certain occupations became reserved because they were considered essential to produce equipment and supplies for the war effort. Shirley was an eyewitness to these changes.
“Two girls from Myrniong, sisters Ivy and Mary, worked out at the Darley brick kiln to replace a couple of the men that went to war. They had to wear overalls and worked alongside the men. It was surely dusty, hard, heavy work for them making all those bricks.”
From the first of April 1942 all engagement of male labour was controlled and a national registration of both male and female labour was completed. The government had the power to say what every man should do whether in the armed services, war industry or civilian industry. The powers under the Manpower Regulations included:
- Power to exempt a person from service or prohibit their enlistment
- Prevent employers from engaging labour not authorised by the directorate
- Restrict the right of employees to engage in the employment of their choice
- Prevent employees from leaving their employment
- Restrict the right of the employer to dismiss his employees
- Power to direct any person to leave one employment and engage in another
- And compel individuals to register and provide information about themselves
Courtesy of: Australian War Memorial
Main Street Bacchus Marsh looking east towards Melbourne. Anderson’s store and that Baptist Church can be seen in the foreground on opposite sides of the road.
Courtesy of the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society Inc. Collection.
Clearly, due to this significant increase in military personnel the township and local district of Bacchus Marsh was changed forever. It is best summed up in Shirley’s own words.
“When the military came to the Marsh, some aspects of the town had changed a great deal, in a good way and although us girls had a lovely time, the War was shocking!”
To read about Shirley’s amazing recollections of Bacchus Marsh during WWII. Learn about her membership of the Famous Country Women’s Association (CWA) ‘Younger Set’, writing letters and cards for the unwell and homesick men and where the local plane spotting shed was situated. Check out our Facebook page now.
