AWAS on Rottnest - WF93345 CHISHOLM (nee PALMER)
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF93345 Private Sheila Mary Chisholm (nee Palmer) of Nedlands, born Cottesloe
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
Open in Google Maps
Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Perth, TRUSCOTT, 1943 (0.39km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Perth, TRUSCOTT, 1943 (0.42km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94821 Edwards (0.51km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941 (0.61km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1941 (0.61km away)
- World War 2, Australia, Western Australia, Voluntary Aid Detachment, 1945 (0.68km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3196 CHENEY (0.77km away)
- Inter War, Australia Western Australia, 16 Battalion, POPE, 1938 (0.9km away)
- Interwar, Australia Western Australia, Perth, Karrakatta Cemetery, HOBBS, Funeral, 1938 (0.95km away)
- The Crematorium, Karrakatta, 1938. (0.97km away)
View all geotagged records...
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94348 DAWSON (nee PATRICK)
- 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
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF14987 ROBY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF54228 ROHAN