AWAS on Rottnest - WF53098 FOWLER (married BARRETT)
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF53098 Private Thelma Mause Fowler (married name Barrett) of Manjimup, born Subiaco
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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:
- PHOTOGRAPH: ORIGINAL ENTRANCE TO KING EDWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (0.03km away)
- World War 1, Europe, 51 Battalion, 3463 BAILEY, 1916 (0.06km away)
- POSTCARD: 'GREETINGS FROM SUBIACO, STATE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT, SUBIACO, W. A.' (0.08km away)
- POSTCARD: 'GREETINGS FROM SUBIACO, STATE CHILDREN'S DEPARTMENT, SUBIACO, W. A.' (0.08km away)
- DRAWING: 'ENTRANCE TO KING EDWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL', PETER HARPER (0.11km away)
- PHOTOGRAPH: THE ENTRANCE OF KING EDWARD'S HOSPITAL (0.14km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 734 MIDDLETON, 10 Light Horse (0.14km away)
- PHOTOGRAPH: ENTRANCE OF 'HARVEY HOUSE' (PREVIOUSLY MATERNITY HOSPITAL AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL) (0.16km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, GILBERT, 10 Light Horse (0.2km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56797 SIMMONS (0.2km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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