Links to additional resources
AWAS on Rottnest - WF3054 MESTON
1943Subcollections
Overview
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF3054 Private June Louise Meston of Victoria Park
Historical information
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF3054 Private June Louise Meston
Details
Details
Registration number
cwa-org-32-54-166
Contextual Information
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
Year
Geotag
-31.980029862658, 115.89924240859
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Nearest geotagged records:
View all geotagged records...
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Nearest geotagged records:
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 536 BATHGATE, 10 Light Horse (0.04km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 101 ANDERSON, 10 Light Horse (0.06km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 265 EAVES, 10 Light Horse (0.15km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53469 EVANS (married McKENZIE) (0.27km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45701 FRANKLIN (0.48km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 816 ROWE, 10 Light Horse (0.54km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90141 ANDERSON (married COOPER) (0.57km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90354 BRAZIER (married IVORY) (0.6km away)
- PENNY AND POUNDER (THEME, HISTORY OF THE VICTORIA PARK POST OFFICE) (0.6km away)
- WATERING HOLE (0.65km away)
View all geotagged records...
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF53064 MILLEN
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF95020 MOLE
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF96675 MORPHEW
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AWAS on Rottnest - W45321 PEARS (married PENISTAN)
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF96592 WEST (nee MOURITZ)
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF90726 MURRAY
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF96364 NAIRN
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF38000 NEWTON
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF90136 NOACK (married NEWMAN)
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF93345 CHISHOLM (nee PALMER)
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF94348 DAWSON (nee PATRICK)
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AWAS on Rottnest - WF56633 PARSONS
