After the gruelling days of refit, trials and working up with the Home Fleet and other units of the Royal Navy Shropshire's complement of about 1000 men were more than pleased to sail for Sydney.

After the Masters Conference attended by all ship's captains on 16 August, Shropshire proceeded to sea at 1900 as an escort to a large troop convoy, KMF 22 consisting of nineteen ships heading for the invasion of Sicily. The convoy consisted of some well known ships: Monarch of Bermuda, Empress of Russia, Ruys, Orion and three other Orient Liners.

Shropshire lookouts sighted 1 JU 88 and the convoy was shadowed by two to three enemy aircraft at various times but for the most part the convoy duties were routine. At one stage twenty-four enemy Focke-Wulf bombers were reported a close twenty miles from the convoy but they failed to sight us. We closed up for action and slept at our stations but bad weather and poor visibility saved the day. It was pleasing to see the activity to protect the convoy as Swordfish and Seafires from the carrier flew overhead and destroyers were busy chasing up Asdic contacts, dropping depth charges as necessary.

We left the convoy at 1230 on 22 August 1943 at a position about 400 miles from Gibraltar. The convoy continued to be protected by an escort carrier, six destroyers and one Canadian frigate. Four hours after leaving the convoy a W/T report indicated an imminent attack on the convoy. It was reported that the 'cruiser' replacing Shropshire was sunk, we were ordered to continue south, not to return to give help and support. We passed the Canary Islands, Cape Verde during the passage to Freetown and met another convoy heading north. The weather warmed, becoming rather sultry, then hot.

We were given short leave in Freetown, more commonly called 'The White Man's Grave', in Sierra Leone, West Africa. The trading ashore with the natives taught a few sailors a well-earned lesson to watch your back and your money.

Captain Collins called on the C-in-C West Africa, Admiral H.B. Rawlings CB, OBE, and Commodore MHA Kelsey DSC. During this brief stay fuel and freight were embarked and some freight was landed.

Leaving on 27 August we crossed the equator - had a practice 4'' shoot - A 'blip' on the radar screen closed the crew up at action stations but the ship was friendly being the British liner Esperance Bay The excitement changed to relief.

Shropshire proceeded to Cape Town, arriving in Table Bay and securing alongside the Cape Town docks on 4 September 1943. Many welcome crates of oranges (9000) were given to the Ship's company. Shore leave was short and parties were arranged quickly with Cape Town families for 300 men through the South African Women's Auxiliary Service. On leaving on the fifth a warrant officer was reported missing. He was later found floating in the sea knifed to death. A tragic loss of life, our third since taking over the Shropshire and we hadn't even started to fight the enemy.

While the ship was on passage to Durban we streamed paravanes. Orders were received from the
C-in-C South Atlantic, Vice-Admiral Sir W.E. Campbell Tait to escort SS Niew Amsterdam to Fremantle - this was later cancelled. No reason was given except that he was 'awaiting the release of destroyers'.

On arrival in Durban on 7 September 1943 the Captains of the RAN destroyers Quickmatch (alongside Shropshire), Nepal, Norman, Napier and Quiberon called on Captain Collins; they were Commander Buchanan, Commander Morris, Lieutenant-Commander Stewart and Lieutenant-Commander Rhoades, all of whom expressed views that all was satisfactory except the mail delays. HMS Roebuck was also alongside, and HMS Sussex and Ramillies were anchored in the harbour. On shore leave, groups of sailors made trips and visits to the Indian markets, an amusement park, as well as playing the 'fruit machines'. Travelling by 'rickshaw' pulled by 'boys' with very high and colourful and decorative headpieces was considered a highlight of the day.

Although Durban was more modern than Cape Town and with a larger population it was still unwise to move about without company. One of our ship's company was left behind in hospital after being beaten up by the natives. One small group of sailors decided to live in style and be 'posh' for a while. So Bob Urry, Jock Epstein and Jack Stranger paid fifteen shillings to stay at a private hotel, the 'Annandale House'. They thought they ought to enjoy the comfort of a soft bed, good home cooked food and 'no orders' for this brief but pleasant trip to Durban, later there was little luxury once they joined battle in the South-West Pacific.

Shropshire left Durban 1100, 14 September 1943 for Fremantle. The weather was cold and the ship rolled constantly for two days resulting in a lot of sick sailors. Later the weather improved and the remainder of the passage was more pleasant.

On 16 September 1943 we were paid in Australian currency, the first time for ten months for some of the crew. During this voyage we closed up at action stations because of a possible submarine attack, but it was a false alarm. However just before arriving, the censorship regulations were spelt out for all the ship's company, to remember on the lines of 'loose lips sink ships'. On the 23 September 1943 the Dutch 'N' Class destroyer Tjerk Hiddes joined as escort. We arrived at Fremantle on 24 September 1943. The WA members of the crew were given leave and Rear-Admiral Purnell USN visited the ship to consult with Captain Collins.

Shropshire departed Fremantle on the 27th arriving Sydney on 2 October 1943 after a good passage. We berthed at the Cruiser Wharf at Garden Island at 0730. Prime Minister Mr John Curtin and the Minister for Navy Mr Norman Makin came on board at 1030 to inspect the new addition to the RAN and welcome her captain and crew. Mr Makin accompanied His Excellency the Governor-General Lord Gowrie, Rear-Admiral G.C. Muirhead Gould, Captain Leighton Bracegirdle and the Press on an inspection of the ship.

During the stay many men-of-war came into the harbour. These included HMAS's Glenelg alongside and Mildura, USS's Steroid, Gransom, Renshaw, HMAS's Vendetta alongside, Narani, Moresby, Cowra, Townsville, USS Monperello and HMAS Kalgoorlie, and US DD491.

On 25 and 27 October 1943, Lieutenant E. Keating, Mid-Shipmen J.Francis, K. Bear, B. Adam, R. Swan, J. Barnard and Surgeon Lieutenant Witterhole joined the ship. At this time Captain Collins, was concerned that after all the training afforded Shropshire's crew during the refit, trials and working up he may lose some of his specialists. But this was not to be the case and the ship's company remained a well co-ordinated and skilful team.

Throughout this refitting period and journey to Sydney the captain was particularly tough and successful in reducing the actions of the 'evil doers'. However in a crew of l000-plus men it is always an ever present fear of all men that when they are close up at defence stations and on duty in their part of ship that some take advantage of their absence from the mess decks.

Before leaving on our first battle tour on 29 October 1943 some union labour troubles made it necessary for Royal Australian Naval Ratings to engage in dry docking the ship at Woolwich for refitting, undocking on the 28th to carry out degaussing ranging. The dockyard workers declared Shropshire black and it was fairly obvious, apart from some genuine grievances, that dockyard workers didn't know the war was on even though they were being paid danger money for working on a warship.