AWAS on Rottnest - WF3192 JEFFREY (nee ROYCE)
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF3192 Private Anna Isabel Jeffrey (nee Royce) of Busselton, born Wylcatchem.
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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:
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53202 BALL (married BAILEY) (0.26km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96325 CASHMORE (0.58km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3039 COCKROFT (0.67km away)
- World War 1, Western Australia, 7097 COOKE, 16 Battalion, 1916 (21.17km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2398 RANDALL, 10 Light Horse (26km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2458 BARR, 10 Light Horse (30.76km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3659 HARRIS, 10 Light Horse (30.83km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia,865 FREARSON, 44 Battalion, 1916 (33.21km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2808 LAWRENCE, 10 Light Horse (33.41km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94866 JONES OM (33.41km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF15731 KEIR (married TRUSCOTT)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45315 KILPATRICK
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94502 LAURENCE
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96557 LOLLER (married MILHAM)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45254 MARR (married ROWLANDS)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94052 PEARSON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95350 RECKNER (married DAY)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96371 REDFERN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45957 ROCHFORT
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93573 RUSHTON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94352 SCARTERFIELD (married WILKINSON)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF57091 SEARLE