Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF96366 COLTON B
1942Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF96366 Gunner Betty Gentles Colton of Claremont born Bunbury
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:
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2 ROSEVEAR, 10 Light Horse, 1914 (0.22km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93573 RUSHTON (0.31km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3069 ROSE, 10 Light Horse (0.31km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1641 PAISLEY, 10 Light Horse (0.31km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2652 SIMMONS, 10 Light Horse (0.32km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95350 RECKNER (married DAY) (0.32km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94984 BATTAMS (0.32km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96591 BARRETT (0.32km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94071 DODSON (0.41km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 975 WALLIS, 10 Light Horse (0.52km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96314 CROSS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56815 CURLEY (married BLANCHETT)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94300 DEASON (married COGHLAN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94071 DODSON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96317 DOHERTY (married KING)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94987 DRAPER (married DUBBELING)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94558 EATON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96311 EDWARDS