Saxon Fogarty was born in Perth in 1908. At the age of 18, he joined the Royal Australian Navy and in the years leading up to World War II, served on a variety of Naval vessels, including HMAS Australia, HMAS Voyager and HMAS Canberra. He had the unique distinction amongst his fellow sailors in that he was a licensed airman, qualified to carry paying passengers. His enthusiasm for aviation saw him spending his off-duty hours flying, including several joy flights in the famous Southern Cross. Able Seaman Fogarty was also officially recognised by the Navy to carry out duties as a photographer on the various vessels he served on. He completed several overseas Naval tours in the years preceding the war. With the outbreak of the war, Saxon Fogarty was assigned to the RAF in England and flew unarmed Blenheims on photo reconnaissance missions. With the fall of France, he was then assigned to the Navy and spent the remainder of the war flying Walrus Amphibians from British battleships, including HMS King George V. After the war, he returned to Western Australia, and for a time from the mid to late forties, ran a photographic service in Fremantle. In the following years, he spent time in the Australian Merchant Marine serving on vessels, including the Iron King, Hemiglypta and Empress of Australia. The images included in this website are a selection from the several hundred negatives which make up a very unique collection,and includes images from the overseas Naval tours in the 1930s to war time, and post-war images in and around Fremantle and Perth. Fremantle Ports kindly acknowledges the contribution made by the family of Saxon Fogarty in giving permission for a selection of images to be shown in this gallery.

Photgraph courtesy of Royal Australian Navy

Fremantle was the largest allied submarine base in the southern hemisphere between 1942 and 1945.

Dutch Warship RNN Karlenaer arrives at Fremantle.

Dutch Submarine K11 Salvage Operations.

Arriving at Fremantle with the families of servicemen and new settlers.

HMS Sussex arriving at Fremantle with Australian soldiers visible on deck.

The former Royal Mail liner Asturias was chartered by the Australian Government for the Southhampton to Sydney emigrant service. She served in this capacity from 1949 to 1953. Fremantle was to become the landing port for many child migrants who voyaged from the UK during this period.

The majestic Shaw, Savill and Albion liner Dominion Monarch was a regular caller to Fremantle for many years. She had a lucky escape from fate during 1942 at Singapore while in dry-dock. Even though the surrounding dock yard area was under constant attack by enemy aircraft it was only through the efforts of the ships crew and dockyard personnel that the vessel was readied for sea and managed to steam safely away from Singapore shortly before the colony surrendered.

SS Kybra served as an anti-submarine training ship for the Royal Australian Navy during WW2.