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During the ANZAC Day March in 1936 a retired PO submariner met up with six or seven former RAN and RN submariners who had served during World War 1, in the "J" class boats between 1919 and 1924 and/or in HMA Submarines OXLEY or OTWAY between 1926 and 1931, and invited them back to his home for a few beers.

The submariners enjoyed themselves so much they vowed to do it again next ANZAC Day. In the interim contact was made with the Submarine Old Comrades Association (SOCA) London Branch in seeking permission to set up an affiliated Branch in Australia.

On 1 July 1937, PO Alfred "Bogey" Harris and his mates held the first meeting of the SOCA Sydney Chapter with Commander F.G. Getting RAN being elected President, the other members to hold office were W.C. Millar as the Chairman, W. Briggs, Secretary and J.F. Beauchamp asTreasurer. The name adopted at the time was the "Submarine Old Comrades Association".

Commander Getting, as a Lieutenant was the first Australian submarine officer to qualify at the Submarine Commanding Officers’ Course; commonly known as the "Perisher" and his first command was HMS/m H47 and he was appointed as First Lieutenant of the new Australian submarine HMAS OXLEY and joined her on April Fools’ Day 1927.

The object of the Association was stated to be "The reunion of Submarine Old Comrades annually and on other occasions as arranged, the membership fee was set at one shilling and the annual subscription at five shillings.

By July 1955 the original Constitution had been amended on five occasions and the object had become "To observe and preserve the Submarine Spirit and Comradeship created during service in HM Submarines".

Following the formation of the Australian Submarine Squadron in 1967 the Association grew and in 1980 further changes were made to the Constitution involving, amongst other things, a change of name which eliminated the words "Old Comrades", the object being to attract more younger submariners into the Association, particularly from the RAN.

In 1990 Elsie Harris, the wife of PO Harris, who always had the interest of the Association and its members at heart bequeathed the sum of $10,000.00 from her estate, which was used to establish the Association Welfare Foundation, set up under the control of elected trustees to provide financial assistance to members and/or their dependents in time of need.

With the exception of the Northern Territory, branches have been formed in all States and the Australian Capital Territory. Each branch operates virtually autonomously and national Co-ordination is effected through a National Committee comprised of an elected National President and Secretary/Treasurer together with Presidents of each State/Territory Branch. In Western Australia a branch of the RN Association still exists, as well as a branch of the SAA.

The Association holds its AGM in a different state each year and this annual reunion of members is called the SAA Submarine Conference - SUBCON.

* The Sydney Chapter of the Submarine Old Comrades Association was the first chapter to be formed with the assistance of the SOCA London Branch, the oldest submarine association in the world, making the Submarines Association the second oldest association. The other Chapters of SOCA in both United Kingdom and overseas, plus other international associations were not founded until after the Second World War.

Photo LCDR F.E. Getting RAN circa 1928-33 courtesy of the Naval Historical Collection.

The Victorian Branch
The Victoria Branch was inaugurated on the 29th November 1987, with the first meeting being held in what was then ‘HMAS Lonsdale’. The first Branch Election was held, Jim Joyce was elected Branch President and ‘Windy’ Gale the Branch Secretary and Treasurer. The original branch members included Jim Dansey, Dave Edson, Alby Farawell, David James, Jim Joyce, Mick Kearon, Darryl Massie, Don Parsons, Butch Urquhart and the membership grew to included many others, some of whom continue as active branch members to this day.

The SAA Victoria Branch, by establishment of its Constitution and registration, became an Incorporated Body in Victoria on the 20th April 1989 and is a recognised (in its own right) as a Service Veterans Organisation in the State of Victoria.

Due to the eventual closure of HMAS Lonsdale, the branch was obliged to seek alternative premises in which to hold it’s meetings and through the (on-going) sponsorship of the Melbourne Naval Centre Incorporated (MNC) meetings were then held at the MNC/English Speaking Union (ESU) in Toorak Road South Yarra. The ESU remains the Branch meeting place and venue for numerous celebratory functions.

Tasmanian Branch
The Tasmanian Branch of the Submarines Association of Australia (SAA) was formed on Sunday, the 9th of August 1998. The inaugural meeting of interested ex-submariners took place in the Memorial Hall in the historic midlands town of Ross after a lunchtime get-together at the Man O'Ross Hotel.

The local Postmaster, John Goss, who had been instrumental in getting the meeting off the ground gave a brief introduction and then the election of Office Bearers was held. Commodore Kim Pitt, RAN (Rtd) was elected as President with John Goss elected as Secretary/Treasurer. Other business conducted throughout the afternoon included an address by the SAA National Secretary, Peter Smith, as well as the drafting of the Constitution, logo design and other weighty matters. Other members present on that first day included David Byrne, Warren Boyles, Grant Beswick, Charlie Bonnet, Mike Crellin, Geoff Cherry, Brett Ollington, Charlie Drake and George Thomas.

 

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