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AWAS on Rottnest - WF45802 LEAKE (married WRIGHT)

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Subcollections

Australian Women's Army Service on Rottnest

Overview

Documentation relating to the AWAS service of W45802 Gunner Cynthia Mary Leake of Kununoppin, born Claremont

Historical information

Cynthia Mary Leake was born in Perth on May 26 in 1921, She grew up on her parent’s
farm in Kununoppin, attending the local school and District High School, completing her
secondary years at St Mary's School in West Perth. Cynthia then undertook nursing
training in Kununoppin, working also at Norseman, Corrigin and Menzies before
volunteering for war service. While nursing, Cynthia had the nickname of "Springer".
On Rottnest she was recognised by an ex-patient, leadng to her being frequently asked
if she was "Gunner Springer Leake", She dealt with this appropriately! Cynthia used the
buttons from her father's army jacket as being of better quality than those issued to her.
After the war she married Vernon (Bill) Wright and they farmed at Bencubbin for a few
years before taking over a family farm in Kellerberrin which had been founded by her
grandfather in 1867. Her uncle, Maitland Leake was one of the founders of
Westfarmers. Twice widowed, Cynthia Ritson now lives in metropolitan Perth.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-085

Inscriptions and markings

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.

Geotag

-31.114393851471, 117.92085279573

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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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