Helming BAE Systems Australia’s contribution, Warship Asset Management Agreement (WAMA) Detailed Design Drafting Manager Brian said that each volunteer had donated their time over the last two years seeing the project from the design through to completion.
“What happened to HMAS Perth (I) was tragic, with many crew members losing their lives during and after the battle and others becoming prisoners of war. The memorial is a fitting tribute to memories of the sailors,” Brian said.
“The Memorial Foundation put out the call for the project and everyone eagerly got behind it. Members of the Memorial Foundation itself; local, state and federal government agencies as well as servicepeople and veteran organisations all sponsored and supported the work.
"The project itself was a huge collaboration: the Memorial Foundation initially began working with Smith Sculptors in 2018 envisioning the concept and bringing it to life. Finalising the concept design with Smith Sculptors, Colgan Industries were responsible for the site’s overall build, SRG Global provided the concrete base and platform, Cooling Brothers Glass Company did the glass work, Gyprock supplied the firewalls and ceiling components and WA Bolts donated hundreds of fasteners, nuts, bolts and washers.
"BlueScope Distribution provided the steelwork material that Eptec applied surface treatment to. Vulcan Engineering took care of the transport between BAE Systems Australia – Henderson and the site of the memorial in East Fremantle.
"Kanyana Engineering machined the aluminium flat bar/wedges that screwed to the front column structure where the glass was installed.”
Brian’s team creates 3D engineering drawings to accommodate the new systems and equipment being installed into the Anzac class frigates, which are being upgraded under the Anzac Midlife Capability Assurance Program (AMCAP). The memorial project was right up their alley but they did pull in some extra help from the wider BAE Systems Australia teams in Henderson.
“My team did a lot of the work inhouse like the 3D modelling, formalising the bill of materials and creating detailed fabrication drawings," Brian said.
"We had a couple of newer members — Cooper and Zoe — who were trainees in the Defence Industry Pathway Program at the time, and they put in a phenomenal effort.
“We had assistance from the Finance, Planning, Work Preparation and Procurement teams.
"Under supervision, the Production apprentices fabricated the memorial’s steel structures and tested everything in the workshop to make sure it was good to go.
"This was done before the steel structures were sent to site, reassembled and installed.”
Vice President and Project Manager Jim O’Neill (Commander, Australian Navy Cadets, retired) said the HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Foundation INC was formed to commemorate the life and loss of the light cruiser.
“Everyone involved has been emotionally touched by the tragedy and the memorial’s final design reflects this while blending the Hall’s existing structure with modern aesthetics of the 2020s,” Jim said.
“A tremendous amount of time and effort was undertaken by our small group of volunteers, with team members working on a daily basis since 2018. This ensured the memorial met our strenuous criteria as a fitting tribute.
“Our approach to the project had two requirements: encapsulate and express the pain and horror of historical events while meeting the physical requirements of the location.
"It’s a special place being a training facility for Australian Navy Cadets, a meeting area for veterans and housing memorabilia for all three Royal Australian Navy ships that carry or have carried the name HMAS Perth,” Jim said.
“Without the assistance of many organisations, government identities and businesses, this project would not have been possible. It proved very difficult at times during the engineering phase.
"However, the end result is a magnificent memorial that has immortalised both HMAS Perth (I) and its crew for future generations to observe and learn the consequences of war from.”
On 1 March 1942, HMAS Perth (I) was torpedoed and sank during the Battle of Sunda Strait, off the Indonesian coast.
With a compliment of 681 officers, enlisted sailors, aviators and civilian canteen staff, 353 people were killed in action or while the ship founded, four died trying to swim to shore and 324 were captured by enemy forces. Of this, 106 perished as prisoners of war with the remaining 218 crew surviving and eventually making it home to Australia and the United Kingdom after being released.
The memorial is also dedicated to those who lost their lives on the USS Houston, which sank alongside HMAS Perth (I) during the battle.
The HMAS Perth (I) memorial is located on Riverside Road, East Fremantle, in Western Australia.