Anzac Day 2019: Fred Bottrell reflects on protecting Australia during World War II

Protecting Australia during World War II was stinky business for Ferntree Gully’s Fred Bottrell. The Ringwood RSL life-member reflects on his time with the British Navy ahead of Anzac Day.

Fred Bottrell, 93, with a picture of himself while he served in the British Navy during World War II. Picture: Hamish Blair

Protecting Australia during World War II was stinky business for Fred Bottrell.

The Ferntree Gully man, 93, grew up in Leicester, UK, and was conscripted into the British navy in May 1943 when he was 17 and a half years old.

Spending time in submarines on postings often meant he went days without a shower.

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“My greatest memory is it's a filthy life, because you couldn’t wash,” he said.

“There was no such thing as a shower, and on the early boats in 1943, if you got a bucket of water, that was the best you could do.

“All you wanted to do as soon as you got back to the depot ship was shower, clean, put some clean gear on and get ashore.”

During the war, Mr Bottrell was part of ‘The Secret Fleet’ on HMS Tiptoe and HMS Turpin and was stationed in Fremantle for six months.

Fred Bottrell with his war medals at home in Ferntree Gully. Picture: Hamish Blair

He was part of a team of American, Dutch and British troops who protected Australia from Japanese invasion.

“We thought we were in heaven when we arrived there, because we were on hard rations,” he said.

“I’ve got wonderful memories of going ashore (in Fremantle) and having steak, egg and chips, apple pie and custard and a coffee for two shillings and a sixpence.”

Mr Bottrell was on HMS Tiptoe when it launched the last torpedo attack of the war on a Japanese freight boat on August 4, 1945.

He returned to Leicester after the war and married wife Iris, who he’s been with for 72 years.

Buoyed by his experiences in Fremantle, he convinced Iris to move to Australia as part of the ex-servicemen scheme.

Fred Bottrell has a tribute to his hometown on his front doorstep in Ferntree Gully. Picture: Hamish Blair

“I fell in love with Australia, the Australians were very good to us,” he said.
“Everybody I know (in the navy) was adopted by a family and those memories stick in your mind.”

Mr Bottrell will attend the Ringwood dawn service on Anzac Day and then march with the Submariners Association in the city.

He is a life member of the Ringwood RSL sub-branch, joining in 1971 while he worked in the area as a telephone services technician.

“The wife and I went dancing there on Saturday nights, it was always a great time,” he said.
“They were one of the first clubs to welcome women and that’s why I made it my RSL.”

He said Anzac Day commemorations were always moving and raw.

“It’s very real, and you only have to see the attitude in the crowd, it's a very emotional business,” Mr Bottrell said.

“There’s lots of misunderstandings about it too … the immediate thought they (attendees) think about is the diggers charging up the beaches at Gallipoli, but it’s much bigger than that.”

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