1919 Fremantle Wharf riot

Background

In 1917, the Fremantle 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 later proven to be correct), and in response the shipowners and government brought in strike-breakers under the National Waterside Workers Union banner. 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.

Riot

On 4 May 1919, the WWF were blockading the wharf to prevent the NWWU workers from reaching Dimboola. The NWWU workers, however, arrived in boats down the river, accompanied by the recently appointed Western Australian Premier, Hal Colebatch. 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.

Aftermath

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.

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

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

References

References

1. (10 May 1919). "Riot on Fremantle Wharf". Northern Times.
2. (1919). "Funeral cortege of Thomas Edwards, Fremantle Trades Hall, 1919".
3. (1971). "The Western Gateway". Fremantle City Council.
4. (26 March 1999). "A History of Struggle on the Wharves". Workers Online.
5. Australian Labor Federation. (1920). "The Fremantle Wharf Crisis of 1919".
6. (5 May 1919). "The West Australian.". [[The West Australian]].
7. This incident was corroborated at the inquest by a man in no way connected with the Lumpers’ Union, Alphy Denic, who said that Renton and Edwards were struck at the same time, the latter whilst he had his arms around Renton, after assisting him to rise.
8. (15 October 2007). "Diary of a Labour Man: 1919".
9. (9 May 1919). "Burial of Thomas Edwards, An Imposing Funeral". The Daily News.
10. (10 May 1919). "Funeral of the Late Mr. Thomas C. Edwards". The West Australian.
11. (6 June 1919). "Lumpers v. Police – The Edwards Inquest". The Daily News.
12. Robertson, Iain J.M.. (2012). "Heritage from Below". Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.
13. [https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20120518055200/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/133629/20120518-1552/monumentaustralia.org.au/monument_display23f8-2.html] {{cbignore