AWAS on Rottnest - WF90445 HARRISON
1942Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF90445 Gunner Veronica Aida Harrison of Mt Hawthorn, born Northcliffe
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, 3595 GOLDING, 10 Light Horse (26.81km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 185 LYALL, 10 Light Horse (41.88km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3071 STIRLING, 10 Light Horse (44.17km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, LIDDELOW, 10 Light Horse (47.56km away)
- Donnelly River Primary School (60.37km away)
- Donnelly River Cottage c1960's (60.45km away)
- Carlotta Hall (67.73km away)
- Carlotta Hall (67.73km away)
- Carlotta Hall (67.73km away)
- Carlotta Hall, Carlotta. 19/02/1984 (67.73km 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 - WR/605 HAWKINS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94559 HEGNEY (married HILSZ)
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56822 HEPBURN (married GILES)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96627 HICKMAN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94543 HILLARY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90122 HOCKING (married CASSIN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53837 HOWIE
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95328 HURLEY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45251 HYMUS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90087 JACKMAN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53382 JOHNSTON