(15 January 1942 to 30 January 1942) The Aquitania arrived at Fremantle on the 15th of January 1942. At Fremantle leave was denied the men. The West Australians had been away from their families for some time (about 6 months) and knew, despite what their Officers were telling them, that their casualties would likely be heavy once they met the Japanese army.
The discontent was so great that a large contingent of troops on board the Aquitania revolted and left the ship. The men of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion were prominent in the contingent which left the Aquitania. Bill said the troops did not intend to desert the army. The troops just wanted to spend some time with their families before going into battle.
The troops who left the Aquitania stayed ashore only a few hours to a day. Some of the men were able to return to the ship. Some returned by handing themselves into the navy, army or police. I do not know which agency Bill turned himself into (probably the police as he had been a Police Officer himself in civilian life).
Whichever agency Bill turned himself into, he ended up with a group of battalion members who were detained until after the Aquitania departed Fremantle on the 16th of January 1942. This group of the 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion was sent by another ship, the Marella on 30th of January 1942 to follow the Aquitania. However, the course of this ship was changed and the men were landed in Java on the 13th of February 1942.