AWAS on Rottnest - WF90410 WORMALD
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF90410 Lieutenant Beryl Ivy Wormald of Webley, born Donnybrook
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 - WF96627 HICKMAN (0.05km away)
- World War 1, Middle East, 10 Australian Light Horse, 484 SYKES, 1915 (0.25km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Donnybrook, 2008 (0.49km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Donnybrook, 2008 (0.49km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF15715 ASHCROFT (married HUNT) (0.52km away)
- Homestead, Donnybrook, for C.A. Lawrence, Esq. (0.94km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 57191 CLIFTON, 10 Light Horse (13.11km away)
- Temporary Bar Boyanup Hotel (13.26km away)
- Railway Hotel Boyanup (13.26km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 892 SCOTT, 10 Light Horse (13.34km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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