THIS LITTLE BOOK OF MY MOTHERS
1940–41 Private Autographs sacred to her .
In 1940 -41 the second world war was well alive my mother Sarah May (Sadie) Shearer then a young single women of 24 years one of seven sisters living in Fremantle Western Australia the port of last embarkation to the war in the middle east. War ships came war ships went friendships brief many a farewell to the sailors of the sea some many never to return .
Sarah May Ferris aka Sadie born in Fremantle in 1916 to Scottish father William Barr Shearer born in East Kilbride Scotland in 1887 he left Liverpool UK aboard the ship RUNIC in 1911 arriving in Fremantle in the early 1912 .
Sarah’s mother Victoria May Taylor born in Fremantle 1891 . Victoria May Taylor one of eight girls and along with her husband William who were married in Fremantle 25 april 1914 Victoria becoming the mother to 7 girls ,Sadie being daughter number two.
Sarah's mother Victoria May Taylor descendants ,arrived by sea to Fremantle in (1886) aboard the ship Helene Mena. Sadie's granddaughter Eliza, my daughter was named after one of the 7 aunties who were on the ship .My grand mothers mother was also on the ship .
Sarah May (Sadie) having been born in 1916 her up bringing include two world wars WW I — The Great Economic Depression 1929 — the Recession of 1937–38 . — WW II Sarah believed that despite the hardship of living through the war and a depression her childhood to her was worth a million Dollars.
Before the second world war Sadie had a love for sport and participated when every she could when ever possible .In the 1930’s Sadie played state cricket for Western Australia along with her sister Jean as seen in photo. Both Sadie and her sister we disappointed in missing out after being selected to play in the Australian team to tour England in 1939 because of the beginning of World War two .
Sadie during in her school years leading up to the beginning of the war 1939 Sadie compete in playing Cricket tennis swimming hockey and ballroom dancing needless to say she was very competitive at them all .
Through out the course of the second world war Sarah met my father Bernie Basil in Fremantle at the P&O Hotel after he arrived at the Fremantle Port aboard HMAS YARRA II on its way to the middle east.
It was at the Gunbar that Sarah May first met Bernie in 1940–41 when the Yarra was docked awaiting orders to sail to the middle east by the time the Yarra sailed love was in the air..
Sadly the HMAS YARRA II never returned to Fremantle.
On the morning of 4th March 1942 The Yarra slipped to the bottom of the sea after a gallant and heroic effort to protect is convoy of ships heading for Fremantle from a Japanese naval fleet of five warships that out weighed out gunned and out run the Gusty Yarra II she went down with all guns blazing and full steam ahead with every man at his post .
Only 15 survivors made it to the rafts and only 13 survived the sea to be pick up 5 days later by a Dutch submarine .
The Gunbar boys of the P&O gone !
Bernie at the time of the sinking was not on the HMAS YARRA II he was in the Navy hospital at Penguin NSW with injuries received from a previous encounter on his beloved number 1 gun the results of a skirmish on the HMAS YARRA II in the middle East in 1941.
The news of the HMAS YARRA II sinking and the loss of life of his mates and crew was devastating to Bernie and sent him into depression which he lived with until the day he died with Sarah May the P&O Gunbar sweet heart by his side.
On that terrible day in march 1942 ,Sarah new something was wrong when the Gunbar at the P&O hotel fell into a deafening silence .On hearing the news of the sinking of the Yarra, Sarah tracked Bernie down and found him at the navy hospital Penguin Sydney, packed her bags said good bye to family and friends and took of for Sydney town,
Love at first sight with Bernie as he walked into the Gunbar in 1940.
With 100's of patrons drinking talking with their mates in the Gunbar at the P&O, some how Bernie shone through them all and won Sadie’s heart.
Then why wouldn't he?
Charming good looking caring and most of all he fell head over heels in love with my mother at first sight love as in the air this is the girl for me .
Bernie from Sydney NSW 4500km away from Fremantle WA the width of Australia from the east coast to the west coast with their birthdays close almost the same Sarah May 1st July 1916 and Bernie’s 30th June 1916 were married in 1943 in Sydney. After a quick honeymoon and a walk or two over the magical Sydney harbor bridge Bernie and Sarah moved to Fremantle where they lived together until they both passed on .
Sadie and Bernie never forgot the men of the Yarra II there families and epically the P&O hotel where Sadie was back from Sydney in 1944 returning to work in her beloved Gunbar.
The Gunbar sweetheart was welcome with loving open arms many tears and hugs .
On Bernies return in 1944 he become a waterside worker at the Port of Fremantle.
For every day of his of working life Bernie would have a beer or two at the old Gunbar at the P&O Hotel and one extra in remembrance for his mates
the ones he believed he should have been with on the fatal day in1942.
As for me I was in the P&O HOTEL office in a white baby basket with baby sitters galore all patrons of Sadie's old Gunbar of the P&O.It was 1944.
I was Born on 22 February 1944 followed 10 years later by a brother Mark born 22 September 1954.
The P&O hotel with out the Gunbar Bar is no more the building stands proud and tall as it did back in 1940s seventy seven years ago .
Today is 15th August 2021 its Sarah May and Bernie's Grand daughter 42cnd birthday
My wife Annette arm in arm with me walking past the front of the restored building that housed the Gunbar of the P&O in the 40’s we looked at each other and said at the same time as we stood looking at the double green doors of the front of the building, do you realize we are standing most likely where Sadie and Bernie stood many times all those years ago .
Annette looks at me a smile on her face just think she says again your mum and dad most likely stood right here holding hands way back then walked the same footpath we are walking now lent against the wall we are touching and in your dads navy uniform snuck a little kiss and cuddle .
Not to be out done by my father I wrapped my arms around my wife and gave her a meaningful soft gentle kiss and cuddle of equal importance .
The hairs on my neck stood up as I realized she is most likely right .
This would have been the case .
With the doors closed and the hotel and the Gunbar retired.
The ghosts of the past patrons of the 40’s with their secrets dreams and plans for their future hidden with in the walls made my mind spin thinking of the ones who never got the chance to follow their dreams.
I smiled to myself knowingly that their dreams were safely locked forever in the Gunbar walls at the P&O Hotel .
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