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On the 9th of October 1940, Richard Francis McColl, a RAN Able Seaman (service number W/501) was fined 5 shillings with another 6 shillings for legal costs and another 25 shillings for damages to the Fremantle Buffalo Club. He was prosecuted for damaging a door panel after he was denied admission to the Club.[1]
He was born in Bairnsdale, Victoria, on 29 October 1907.[2]
In 1945 he was involved in a dispute about his and other servicemen's right to occupy a vacant house in Williamstown, Victoria.[3] The National Security (War Service Moratorium Regulations) allowed "Any member of the Forces [to] require the owner of a dwelling-house to which this regulation applies which is vacant, or is about to become vacant, to let the dwelling-house to him or her at a reasonable rental, and the owner shall, unless he has reasonable cause for refusing so to do, let the dwelling-house accordingly.[4]
Right To House.
Living with his wife, and three children in one room of a four-room house; which already housed five other persons and which had a 10ft. x 12ft. living room and was unsewered, a discharged serviceman contested his right before the Williamstown Court on Tuesday to the occupancy of an allegedly vacant house at 36 Lyons St., North Williamstown.
The applicant was Richard Francis McColl,. P.M.G. linemain, a discharged Navy man, of 163 Mason St., Newport, and he based his application on the fact, that he was a protected person, within the meaning of National Security (War Service Moratorium Regulations). The requirement was served on Miss Ruby Allen, who was said to be the owner of the house but who lived with an invalid brother at 30 Lyons St. Miss Allen did not appear at court.
McColl said that he was a Navy pensioner with 14½ years’ service, including 2½ years’ active service. He served notice on Miss Allen on August 27 and had spoken to her at a fruit shop where she worked. He had asked her if the five-room house at 36 Lyons St. was her house and she said, “Yes.” Following on information from neighbors that the house was vacant, he, with other ser vicemen, had watched the house for a few hours every night for a week. They had seen nobody enter or leave the house.
McColl said he had not looked through the windows of the house and did not know whether or not there was furniture inside. The house was in good condition. His in come was £5/13/ a week, plus a pension of £9/12/ a fortnight.
Mr. Wade, P.M., said that while he did not deny that McColl had the right to occupy the house if shown to be vacant, there was still no evidence to show that the house was vacant. Definite proof would have to be made before an order could be made. However, the requirement would be kept in force pending the calling of witnesses. The case was adjourned for 14 days.
References
- ↑ Seaman Smashes Glass Panel (1940, October 9). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), p. 14 (CITY FINAL). Retrieved January 3, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article78802644
- ↑ MCCOLL, Richard Francis, Virtual War Memorial.
- ↑ Right to House. (1945, September 22). Williamstown Advertiser (Vic. : 1875 - 1954), p. 1. Retrieved January 6, 2026, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article270868107
- ↑ National Security (War Service Moratorium) Regulations