AWAS on Rottnest - WF94071 DODSON
1943Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF94071 Private Patricia Gordon Dodson of Bunbury, born Fremantle
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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 - WF95350 RECKNER (married DAY) (0.15km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94984 BATTAMS (0.15km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96591 BARRETT (0.15km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2652 SIMMONS, 10 Light Horse (0.16km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3069 ROSE, 10 Light Horse (0.16km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1641 PAISLEY, 10 Light Horse (0.16km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93573 RUSHTON (0.16km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1678 TOMKINSON, 10 Light Horse (0.36km away)
- Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF96366 COLTON B (0.41km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2 ROSEVEAR, 10 Light Horse, 1914 (0.51km 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 - WF96317 DOHERTY (married KING)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94987 DRAPER (married DUBBELING)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94558 EATON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96311 EDWARDS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94821 Edwards
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96318 ELLINGHAM
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90099 ELLIOT
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53378 FEWINGS (married McMAHON)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45701 FRANKLIN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90987 GREEN (married WELLS)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96310 HADDRILL
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45763 HANCOCK (married Wilson)