AWAS on Rottnest - WF45905 BROWNING
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF45905 Corporal Bessie Browning of Victoria Park, born Narrogin
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The Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) was formed in late 1941, two years after the outbreak of World War 2. Australian women had been agitating for some time for the chance to join the War Effort. They wanted to do “real work, not knit sock for the men.” The primary aim of AWAS was to release men from some military duties so they could be deployed in fighting units.
Initial recruitment was for duties associated with “women’s work”, clerks, cooks and typists, still being done my male soldiers. Beginning in early 1942 as invading Japanese swept through the South West Pacific towards Australia, many more military trades were opened to women including signals, weapons plotting, drivers, which involved close contact with the coast defence systems on Rottnest.
This collection brings together the stories of women in the Australian Women’s Army Service who were deployed on Rottnest Island as part of the defences of Fortress Fremantle from 30 September 1942 onward. The content is based on a “Saluting Their Service” exhibition developed by the Rottnest Voluntary Guides on the 80th Anniversary of this deployment. The exhibition was presented at Kingstown Barracks, Rottnest Island from 8-9 October 2022 and at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia from 9 – 17 November 2022.
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Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3167 ARMIT, 10 Light Horse (0km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia, BARTLETT, 12 Battalion, 1915 (0.01km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96363 BENPORATH (nee HENNIG) (0.01km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2867 BARRON, 10 Light Horse (0.02km away)
- World War 1, Europe, 3822 HILL, 11 Battalion, 1916 (0.04km away)
- World War 1, England, 3383 GOULD, 51 Battalion, 1918 (0.04km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1631 McGARRIGLE, 10 Light Horse (0.07km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3438 WHITE, 10 Light Horse (0.11km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia,946A FURZE, 10 Light Horse (0.13km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3772 AUSTIN, 10 Light Horse (0.42km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96313 CLARK (married KEEN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93144 CLELAND
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45399 CRAWLEY (married LEONARD)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90201 DARK
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94362 DICK (married HOLMES)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96591 BARRETT
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53469 EVANS (married McKENZIE)
- AWAS on Rottnest - 4WF5980 FANCOTE (married COX)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95158 FENNELL (married LEE)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53098 FOWLER (married BARRETT)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45486 GILLAM (nee SCOTT-MALCOLM)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90109 GOYDER (married NOWLAND)
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