1919 Fremantle Wharf riot

1919 Fremantle Wharf riot

Tom Edwards was killed in the riot
Date May 4, 1919
Location Fremantle Harbour
Participants Waterside Workers' Federation
Lumpers' Union
Western Australia Police
Deaths 1 - Tom Edwards
Coroner E.P. Dowley

The 1919 Fremantle Wharf riot was a riot which arose out of a stevedores' strike in Fremantle, Western Australia in 1919.[1] The strike was called by the Waterside Workers' Federation (WWF) over the use of National Waterside Workers Union (NWWU) workers to unload the quarantined ship Dimboola, and escalated into fatal violence when WWF workers and supporters attempted to prevent NWWU members from carrying out the work.[2]

Background

In 1917, the Lumpers Union refused to load ships that they believed were destined to take supplies to Germany, then an enemy nation. This belief was denied by the government of the day (but was however later proven to be correct), and in response the shipowners and government brought in strike-breakers under the National Waterside Workers Union banner.[3] This was intended to be only for the job at hand, but the NWWU labour continued to be employed after the immediate need, and despite their willingness the WWF workers were prevented from returning to work for some time.[3]

Riot

On 4 May 1919, the WWF were blockading the wharf to prevent the NWWU workers from reaching the Dimboola. The NWWU workers, however, arrived in boats down the river, accompanied by the Western Australian Premier, Hal Colebatch (who was only Premier for a month).[2] In the fracas, Tom Edwards, a union worker, was attempting to assist the WWF president William Renton when he was struck on the head by a police baton. He died three days later at Fremantle Hospital.[3][4]

Aftermath

Thomas Clarke Edwards' funeral procession.

The funeral of Edwards at Fremantle Cemetery attracted a large crowd numbering into the thousands including fellow wharf workers and most members of the Western Australian parliamentary Labor Party.[5][6]

An inquest into the riot found that Edwards' death was accidental.[7]

A memorial fountain was sculpted by Pietro Porcelli in Edwards' honour.[8] It was located over time in a number of locations and is now found in Kings Square.

References

  1. ↑ Ewers, John K. (1971). "12 The First World War and After". The Western Gateway. Fremantle City Council. p. 1919.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Beasley, Margo (26 March 1999). "A History of Struggle on the Wharves". Workers Online. Retrieved 20 November 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Australian Labor Federation (1920). Wikisource link to The Fremantle Wharf Crisis of 1919. Wikisource.
  4. ↑ "Diary of a Labour Man: 1919".
  5. ↑ "Burial of Thomas Edwards, An Imposing Funeral". The Daily News. 9 May 1919. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  6. ↑ "Funeral of the Late Mr. Thomas C. Edwards". The West Australian. 10 May 1919. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  7. ↑ "Lumpers v. Police - The Edwards Inquest". The Daily News. 6 June 1919. p. 4. Retrieved 21 November 2012.
  8. ↑ Robertson, Iain J.M. (2012). Heritage from Below. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 201. ISBN 0754673561.

Further reading