Frolick, Charles David (Able Seaman, b.1919 - d.2000)

Places
Accession Number AWM2019.562.1
Collection type Private Record
Record type Collection
Measurement Extent: 2.5 cm; Wallet/s: 1
Object type Diary
Maker Frolick, Charles David
Place made Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
Date made 1939
Access Open
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copying Provisions Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction.
Description

Collection relating to the Second World War service of 22147 Able Seaman Charles David 'Bill' Frolick, HMAS Perth, Royal Australian Navy, Indian Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, 1939.

Box 1 of 1- Consists of one diary of Able Seaman Frolick, containing entries dated between 26 May and 31 December 1939, and original black folder. In his diary, Able Seaman Frolick records his experiences of service on the HMAS Perth. Some of these experiences include travelling to the United Kingdom on SS Autolycus, being inoculated, attending gunnery training, having leave in Durban, South Africa, taking part in a 'crossing the line' ceremony, transferring to HMAS Perth in the United Kingdom, painting the ship, making preparations for embarkation, leave in Portsmouth, United Kingdom, attending the official renaming ceremony of the HMAS Perth, being the duty motor-boatman, trailing equipment, sightseeing in London, sailing to the United States of America, having leave in New York City, sailing to Jamaica, hearing that war had been declared, making preparations for wartime service, guarding their station at Trinidad, going on patrols between the West Indies and the Western Atlantic, seeing films at the cinema while on shore, escorting convoys, being on the watch for enemy submarines, playing hockey with a team of Jamaicans, sailing in a tornado, leave in Halifax, Canada, injuring his foot, sailing through the Panama Canal to the Cocos Islands, fuelling two Royal Canadian Navy destroyers, returning to Jamaica, and patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Able Seaman Frolick also regularly comments on weather conditions.

This box also includes reference material consisting of copies of six photographs relating to Able Seaman Frolick [dates unknown].

History / Summary

Able Seaman Charles David Frolick enlisted to the Royal Australian Navy on 1 June 1938. He served on HMAS Cerberus, Yarra, Penguin, and Adelaide before being transferred to the HMAS Perth in mid-1939, as part of her first crew. With the HMAS Perth, Able Seaman Frolick participated in regular patrols and convoy escorts in the West Atlantic and Caribbean. In November 1940, Able Seaman Frolick was again transferred. During the remainder of the war, he served with a variety of ships including HMAS Cerberus, Norman, and Penguin. After the war, Able Seaman Frolick continued to serve in the Navy, and was discharged on 31 May 1950.