Indian seamen in Australia formed a union in October 1945 during a strike and boycott of Dutch shipping in support of the Indonesian declaration of independence in August 1945. The strike was a result of Dutch shipowners threatening to transfer Indian seamen in Dutch registered ships to other Dutch ships boycotted by Indonesian crew. The Indian seamen supported the boycott which held for nine months from 1945-1946 and intermittently over four years. They received support for some weeks from the New South Wales Trades and Labour Council in the form of rations and strike pay. Due to his work in the Indian Seamen's Club in Sydney and close relationship with the strikers, CH (Clarrie) Campbell was elected Treasurer and was the sole European office bearer. After 1947, many of the Union's functions were taken over by the Indian Seamen's Union.