AWAS on Rottnest - W45666 SANGSTER
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of W45666 Signalman Mary Evelyn Sangster of North Perth
Details
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 - WF96660 KEEFFE (Married DUFFECY) (0.17km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1401 HALLIDAY, 10 Light Horse (0.19km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia, ROWLES, 12 Battalion, 1915 (0.28km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, BROWN, 10 Light Horse (0.43km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 4179 WALSH, 10 Light Horse (0.64km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 852 BAXTER, 10 Light Horse (0.68km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96244 WHISKIN (0.89km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3594 Broadley, 10 Light Horse (0.9km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3594 BROADLEY, 10 Light Horse (0.9km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 963 NELSON, 10 Light Horse (0.98km 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
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 716 CLOVERDALE, 10 Light Horse
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 728 HAHN, 10 Light Horse
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 734 MIDDLETON, 10 Light Horse
- Cranbrook Presentation Plaque to 1826 Sergeant JC Gillam, MM
- Victoria Cross - Lieutenant William St Lucien Chase VC
- Miniature Medals including Victoria Cross - Lieutenant Hugo Throssell VC
- Medal Group - Lieutenant Arthur Wilfred (Pompey) Gull MC
- Diorama - Malaya, "He's Coming South", 1942
- Diorama - Worls War 2, Burma-Thai Railroad, 1943
- World War 1, Sweetheart Souvenir Parcel from Ypres, LONGMORE / SUTTON, 1918
- Magnetic Marching Compas, Mk 1
- Pre 1914, Mess Dress Jacket, JOSE, Geraldton Rifle Volunteers, 1886