Freedom of Entry
By John Perryman
Artwork by Gary Kinkade
During medieval times, in Continental Europe and the British Isles, fortress walls afforded cities protection from incursions by outlaw bands and attacks by feudal lords. The citizens of those walled cities wisely refused to allow entry to armed groups, including troops, unless they were absolutely sure that those arms would not be used against them. Bitter experience had taught them that armed men were, as often as not, neither respecters of persons or property and that they were liable to take any and every opportunity to plunder both.[1]
As cities and towns were invariably situated on main roads and at principal road junctions, denial of entry imposed great hardship on troops ‘on the march’. Food and arms could not be replenished and it became necessary to take long detours over difficult terrain to reach a given destination or objective. Troops soon saw the merit in establishing good relations with the Corporations and citizens of walled cities and by good conduct earned the privilege of entry and passage. This privilege, not readily won and highly prized, was known as Freedom of Entry.
Hence the granting of permission to a formed body of armed men to enter a city became the mark of trust and confidence in which that body was held by its citizens.
In the case of the Navy, Freedom of the City was more usually conferred in recognition of the defence of sea port cities and towns, however, as many vessels in the contemporary RAN fleet carry the names of land-locked centres, so the honour has been extended to include a number of them.
The granting of Freedom of Entry is the highest accolade a town or city can bestow upon a group or individual and it is no less readily won or lightly given today than it was centuries ago.
The ceremony of granting Freedom of Entry to an RAN unit is centred on a procession that begins at a suitable staging point within the town or city involved. The unit concerned is formed up and marches to the staging point, where it awaits the arrival of the official party and the Lord Mayor.
On arrival of the Lord Mayor the parade is inspected before being addressed by him/her and an ornate scroll authorising the granting of Freedom of Entry read out and presented. On receiving the scroll the Commanding Officer of the unit involved traditionally delivers a short acceptance address. A scroll party then takes custody of the scroll and the Australian White Ensign is escorted by a Colour Party into the staging area where it is ceremonially uncased. The unit then exercises its right of Freedom of Entry into the town or city, armed, with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, colours flying, drums beating and band playing.
Left: HMAS Harman was granted the honour of conducting a Freedom of Entry into the City of Queanbeyan, New South Wales in 1981. This booklet was produced to mark the occasion. Right: The scroll was signed by the Mayor of Queanbeyan DM Madew.
Left: Mayor Madew, having inspected the guard, hands the Freedom of Entry scroll to HMAS Harman Commanding Officer Commander VR Littlewood. Right: Commander VR Littlewood delivers the scroll to Scroll Officer WOWRSTD Lenore 'Lennie' Maiden.
HMAS Harman personnel conduct the Freedom of Entry march, swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, band playing and colours flying.
Left: The parade is halted after a 'challenge' by the City Marshal. Right: Scroll Officer WOWRSTD Maiden displays the permission given to the parade to enter the city.
At a pre-determined position en route, the parade is halted and a challenge issued by a senior member of the local constabulary. At this juncture the units’ Commanding Officer responds and presents for inspection the Scroll granting Freedom of Entry. After inspecting the scroll the challenging officer acknowledges the unit’s right and privilege and permits it to pass. The unit then continues the procession through the city where it passes, if possible, the local war memorial and then the Town Hall where the Mayor takes the salute. On completion the unit returns to the staging point and disperses.
Left: HMAS Penguin was given the honour of conducting a Freedom of Entry in early 1981, RADM A.J. Robertson and CAPT J.R Da Costa pose with the local mayor. Right: The Scroll Officer and his guard proudly present the scroll as the ships company stand to attention.
Left: The Moomba festival in March 1983 saw HMAS Cerberus conduct a Freeedom of Entry into the bustling streets of Melbourne. Right: The squad is halted as the commanding officer of Cerberus, Captain Mike Rayment RAN steps to the microphone.
Left: Warrant Officer Signals Yeoman (WOSY) Harry Kime was selected for the role of Scroll Officer, a just recognition of his tireless efforts within the communications branch. Right: The representative for Victoria Police issues a decree to WOSY Kime and the assembled Cerberus guard.
The commanding officer of the shore establishment HMAS Cairns leads his charges down Abbott Street during a Freedom of Entry into the city.
Petty Officer Signals Yeoman Gary Swanton unfurls the Australian White Ensign prior to the crew of HMAS Newcastle exercising its right to Freedom of Entry into the City of Newcastle, NSW.
The Australian White Ensign is uncased by POQMG Tony Howard on the occasion of HMAS Tobruk's inaugural granting of Freedom of Entry into the City of Lake Macquarie on 9 August 1991. Visible in the escort party are: L-R: LSQMG Dean Faunt, SBLT MJ Kear and LSQMG Chris Bryant.
The Royal Guard of HMAS Cerberus escorts the Queen's Colour past Flinders Street Station in Melbourne on the occasion of the granting of Freedom of Entry on 16 September 2011.
The scroll granting Freedom of Entry is retained by the Unit and normally displayed, with great pride, in a place of prominence in the ship, squadron, establishment or unit.
A freedom of entry scroll, conveying the right of the Brisbane Port Division and Royal Australian Naval Reserve to enter the city of Brisbane in 1983
An example of the fine artwork and artistry displayed in Freedom of Entry scrolls can be seen here, commemorating HMAS Platypus' Freedom of Entry into North Sydney in 1992.
Two examples of ornate scrolls honouring HMA Ships Newcastle and Parramatta with Freedom of Entry.
Chief Petty Officer Maritime Logistics - Supply Chain Jason Lynch presents Western Australia Police Assistant Commissioner Allan Adams with The Freedom of Entry scroll during HMAS Perth's Freedom of Entry parade. 28 August 2021.
Exmouth Shire President, Matthew Niikkula (right) doffs his hat as HMAS Gascoyne's Ship's Company and Royal Australian Navy Band's Western Australia detachment conduct a Freedom of Entry March through the streets of Exmouth in Western Australia. October 2021
Endnotes
- ↑ SPC-A file 288i Ceremony of Conferring Freedom of Entry to City Upon a Ship’s Company.
