A GATHERING OF THE CLAN?
1948 was a momentous year for the RSL and for those who had as their goal the elimination and removal of the communist movement within Australia. As you will read in the press articles below, the public held grave fears for their country and was prepared to take action.
One hub of activity was Glenelg and the Glenelg RSL played a prominent part.
One hub of activity was Glenelg and the Glenelg RSL played a prominent part.
THE CLAN
A veritable who's who of the military leadership past and then present met in Adelaide during May 1948.
A.S. Blackburn, State president of the South Australian RSL
Sir Eric Millhouse, ex.State President S.A. RSL, Federal President of the RSL
Sir Thomas Blamey, head of The Association
Brigadier W.A. Trott, (Trott Park?)
Sir Raymond Leane, ex-Commissioner of SA Police and committed anti-communist. Father of Detective Sergeant Leane.
THE PUBLIC VOICE
As might be expected, there was a grave concern held by many senior ex-military officers and others in relation to the activities of the communist party in Australia.
Sir Raymond Leane had made his position in relation to the unionist movement very clear in 1928 when he took the waterfront labourers on culminating in his facing down a mob of 200 fired up unionists with just 150 officers. But now in 1948, a very different kind of 'mob' was involved. The CPA was highly organised and financed from Russia plus whatever cash could be raised locally. They had an intricate network of well placed public servants and politicians as well as some disaffected unionists. Their logistical support was impressive with numerous safe houses and even a fully equipped clandestine printing set up.
Sir Raymond Leane had made his position in relation to the unionist movement very clear in 1928 when he took the waterfront labourers on culminating in his facing down a mob of 200 fired up unionists with just 150 officers. But now in 1948, a very different kind of 'mob' was involved. The CPA was highly organised and financed from Russia plus whatever cash could be raised locally. They had an intricate network of well placed public servants and politicians as well as some disaffected unionists. Their logistical support was impressive with numerous safe houses and even a fully equipped clandestine printing set up.
Below is an article from the Advertiser Newspaper in Adelaide from 6th April 1948:
South Australia RSL:
And from Tasmania in July 1948:
The articles say it all, the anti-communist feeling was running high and South Australia seems to have been a focal point.
THE VDC
Now to the matter of the Volunteer Defence Corps.
Similar in nature to the British Home Guard, the VDC was formed originally by the RSL in 1940 but the Government of the day stepped in in 1942 following the commencement of War in the Pacific. In South Australia there were some 8000 ex WW1 veterans who had enlisted and served in various positions from anti-aircraft gunnery to Intelligence operations alongside the local Police and Military Intelligence units.:
On 18 June 1940, Leane was appointed as the commander of the Returned and Services League-organised Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) in South Australia, an organisation similar to the Home Guard in the United Kingdom. Within two weeks, more than 2,000 returned World War I servicemen had enlisted in the VDC. In response to the outbreak of war, by July 1940 Leane had authorised the swearing-in of 3,000 special constables to guard vulnerable points and industry against fifth column elements. On 19 October, Leane commanded a parade of more than 5,000 VDC members, including 2,000 who had travelled from country areas. By February 1941, the VDC had increased to a strength of 8,000 men. During World War II, South Australia was the only state to permit members of the police to enlist in the armed forces, but this was withdrawn after Japan entered the war, due to the need to maintain police numbers. In July 1943, Leane's appointment as VDC commander was extended for twelve months, despite the fact that he had reached the normal Army retirement age of 65. On 30 June 1944, Leane retired as police commissioner and was replaced by William Francis Johns, a serving superintendent.
Nationally it was estimated that the VDC had approximately 100000 men at their disposal, a figure that coincides with the estimated strength of The Association. Though it is true to say that the VDC wound up in 1945, these men were all connected by their previous service and by the RSL.
This information provides us with further valuable knowledge about the times and about the organisations that existed in them and just where they had their control points.
The researchers amongst the audience will no doubt take note of the names who were present at the various locations and meetings, a rich source of further leads. Will be publishing more in due course,
Continuing the research into the nature of the RSL in Australia and the almost pitched battle it fought against the perceived communist threat to the country. In previous posts one particular organisation has been named, THE ASSOCIATION. We have already named a number of senior serving and ex military officers but that list is far from exhaustive.
ReplyDeleteTo assist the many researchers out there, here is a link to a fairly brief but extremely informative paper of Communism in the 40s and 50s. It is a part of a major work, LABOUR HISTORY published by Liverpool University Press. This 17 page article is entitled:
The RSL and the Cold War, 1946-50.
https://www.jstor.org/stable/27516555?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
In it numerous names from both sides of the conflict are mentioned as are the names of a few organisations including one shadowy group run under the auspices of the RSL and which had its own Intelligence and counter Intelligence unit. It is a serious topic and it is very relevant if you want to gain a firm understanding of the nature of the political tensions that existed in Australia up to and including the time of the discovery of the Somerton Man's body and into the 1950s.