AWAS on Rottnest - WF3039 COCKROFT
1943Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF3039 Private Reita Mildred Cockroft of Wyalkatchem
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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 - WF96325 CASHMORE (0.15km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53202 BALL (married BAILEY) (0.41km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3192 JEFFREY (nee ROYCE) (0.67km away)
- World War 1, Western Australia, 7097 COOKE, 16 Battalion, 1916 (21.83km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2398 RANDALL, 10 Light Horse (25.65km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2458 BARR, 10 Light Horse (30.91km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3659 HARRIS, 10 Light Horse (30.99km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia,865 FREARSON, 44 Battalion, 1916 (32.93km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 2808 LAWRENCE, 10 Light Horse (33.12km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94866 JONES OM (33.12km 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 - WF20627 CRADDON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96309 CRAIN (married PEARCE)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3050 CRAWFORD (married CARVELL)
- 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
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94821 Edwards