AWAS on Rottnest - WF96316 WELLS WM
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF96316 Private Winifred Mary Wells of Collie
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 - WF53745 WELLS ME (0.02km away)
- , Australia Western Australia, BOTTLE, CARSON, Australian Army Nursing Service, 1913 (0.13km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3669 SWEENEY, 10 Light Horse (0.15km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia, 1915 (0.23km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Collie, 1915 (0.23km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95151 BASTOW (0.28km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF15731 KEIR (married TRUSCOTT) (0.29km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Collie, 1915 (0.3km away)
- World War 1, England, MARGOLIN, 16 Battalion, 1918 (0.31km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96365 McCABE (0.55km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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