AWAS on Rottnest - WF54228 ROHAN
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF54228 Private Irene Rohan of Highgate, born Dwellingup
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:
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, SARRE, 10 Light Horse (0.02km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90465 SWEET (married WADE) (0.03km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, MOORE, 10 Light Horse (0.06km away)
- World War 1, Europe, 4778 LOUDON, 28 Battalion,1918 (1.88km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1851 CHAPPELL, 10 Light Horse (1.92km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF91349 MORGAN (married CORNISH) (17.14km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, McKAY, 10 Light Horse (17.66km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 982 ABBOTT, 10 Light Horse (17.77km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 399 FIELDS, 10 Light Horse (17.81km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF14978 COLLING (19.9km 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 - WF45987 SANDERCOCK
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF2920 SANDS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90203 SAVAGE
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45450 SEAMON (married CONNIFF)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90725 SHEEDY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90198 SHERWOOD (married STAGGARD)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56797 SIMMONS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53467 SLATER
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45872 SMITH
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45289 SMITH
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45388 SOLOMON (married McEVOY)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56840 SWEENEY