AWAS on Rottnest - WF90141 ANDERSON (married COOPER)

Dorothy was born on10 September 1924 in Perth .
Parents were George Andrew Anderson and Doris Worthington. Her father was a biograph operator and electrician. (A biograph was an early device to show moving pictures on a screen, so he was a Motion Picture Operator). George enlisted in the AIF during WW2 and was in the RAE. He then became a Lieutenant in the 3 Aust Company Camouflage Training Unit. George had two army numbers, W34193 and WX35407.

Dorothy enlisted on 17 January 1943 in East Perth. At that time she was working as a waitress. Her Army number was WF90141.
After “rookies” training she was in 2 Signal Training Battalion (AWAS) at Ivanhoe in Victoria and then to NSW Lines of Communication Signals.

On her return to WA in September of 1942 she was sent to signals at Fremantle Fixed Defences.

Dorothy’s service record does not specifically record that she went to Rottnest, however it contains correspondence to suggest that she was there.

NOTE: This was the case for many of the AWAS women. It seems that the AWAS sent to Rottnest were classed as ‘intro’ transfers as the units they were given were all part of the Fremantle Fixed Defences. There are a lot of letters sent to Army records from AWAS asking for confirmation that they were deployed to Rottnest. For part of the war Rottnest was classed as an overseas zone and extra benefits were available.

In June 1945, Dorothy was given her only reprimand , the charge being “losing by neglect her clothing” and had to reimburse the cost. She was then posted again to Victoria in July and then the same year also posted to NSW. On her return to WA in April 1946 she was demobbed.

On 19 June 1948 she married Leslie Robert Cooper at St Margaret’s Church Nedlands WA. Leslie was in the army in 11 Australian Signals, his trade group being Linesman signaller. His army number was WX29027.
They then went to Harvey to live and the 1949 electoral roll shows they were living in Young Street Harvey and Leslie worked as a power station attendant.
The 1977 electoral role shows they lived in 33 Broun Avenue Embleton WA in 1977 and Leslie was then working as a technician.
Dorothy died 3 June 2009 in Guildford WA. She was cremated in Karrakatta Cemetery in Nedlands WA. Her memorial is in the Lance Howard Memorial Gardens Wal 16-0039.

1. Service Record NAA Series B884
2. Service Record NAA Series B883
3. Service Record NAA Series B883
4..Australia Electoral Rolls 1903-1980 Ancestry.com
5. Metropolitan Cemeteries Board mcb.wa.gov.au