Second World War “Soliders Pay Book” – WF91315 NORMAN Gwenneth May

Born in Barnett, England on the 10th June 1918, Gwenneth May Norman (nee Pierpoint) came to Perth, Australia with her parents as an infant after the First World War.
In 1942, Gwen to which she prefers, enlisted in the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) in Perth on 27th December and was trained in drill instruction and physical training at the old Claremont Teachers College.
After progressing through the ranks from Private, Lance Corporal, Corporal and finally to Sergeant, Gwen was posted to Albany in April 1943 and attached to the Albany Fixed Defence as 2IC (Second In Charge). The AWAS units were always attached to the men’s army units across the Australia to relieve them for overseas duty.
When in Albany she lived at the AWAS army barracks on Brunswick Road in a building known as The Mount. In Albany the women were either attached to the signals unit at The Rocks in Grey Street or the Albany Fixed Defence here at the Princess Royal Fortress. Whilst a few reported for duty at the Volunteers Defence Corps (VDC) headquarters in Grey Street, just behind the Albany Town Hall.
One of Gwen’s main roles was as PT (Physical Training) and Drill Instructor in Albany. She would walk to the fortress each day to carry out her duties in keeping the women fit and disciplined. No songs were sung in drill training, rather Gwen used a side drum to keep the rhythm. She assisted as 2IC in barrack administration at The Mount, but when the Officer In Charge (OIC) Lieutenant L. M. Okely went away, she would move up to the fortress barracks to supervise. The barracks was the Married Quarters and the officer’s sleeping room was an enclosed veranda at the rear of the building.
Whilst in Albany Gwen met her future husband Gordon who was with serving in the Royal Australian Navy on HMAS Leeuwin. They first met at church and soon discovered that they were both living on Brunswick Road, Gordon’s family house just beyond The Mount. As they continued their service throughout the war it wasn’t until Gwen was demobilised in March 1945 that they married in Geraldton. Gordon was still serving in the Navy. but once he was discharged, they moved to the family farm.
Compiled and written by David Theodore