AWAS on Rottnest - WF38000 NEWTON
1944Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF38000 Valda Joy Newton of Fremantle born Kelmscott
Details
Details
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:
- PROGRAMME, ANZAC DAY MEMORIAL SERVICE 1921 (0.28km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1726 MARTIN, 10 Light Horse (0.63km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, MARTIN, Australian Army Nursing Service (0.66km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1664 SMITH, 10 Light Horse (0.67km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90203 SAVAGE (0.72km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3173 BUNNEY, 10 Light Horse (1.33km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90140 WARREN (married OHRT) (1.63km away)
- MEDAL, COMMEMORATIVE - CITYOF ARMADALE SPANNING THE CENTURY (3.35km away)
- Narrogin Inn, Armadale? (3.36km away)
- Honeymooner Ruby in front of Ye Olde Narrogin Inne (3.38km 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
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56633 PARSONS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF54200 POPE
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96184 QUILL
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94513 RANNARD
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45652 RICE
- AWAS of Rottnest - W45447 RICHARDSON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94876 RIDDLE (married WATTS)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93718 ROBERTS (married HEFFERNAN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45466 ROBERTSON