AWAS on Rottnest - W45479 BYERS

Eileen’s was born in Fremantle on the 19 January 1913. Her parents were Harry Hobson Byers, who was an accountant, and Emma Maria Muller. Harry and Emma married in Perth WA in 1906. As well as Eileen, Harry and Emma had three other children, Dorothy, Thelma and Jack. Thelma sadly died aged only 9 months in 1912.

Eileen enlisted on 25 April 1942 at Swan Barracks WA. She gave her sister Dorothy as her next of kin. Her mother had died in 1928 and her father in 1931.

She transferred to Heavy Artillery Fremantle Fortress on 22 August 1942 and a month later she was posted to Kingstown Barracks on Rottnest Island. Later that year in November she was posted to Oliver Hill on the island.
By January 1943 Eileen became a TG2 Classified Instrument Operator, and subsequently a Lance Bombardier in March 1943 and the same day was made a full Bombardier. On 21 February 1944 she was appointed a Lance Sergeant and a few days later was sent to AWAS NCOs’ School. Eileen was promoted to Sergeant in May of that year.
She was then sent to a number of other courses until she was discharged on 20 November 1945

After the war Eileen married George Augustus Fane in 1947 in Perth. (Note they had two daughters by 1952 Brenda and Joy who are mentioned in their death notice for Eileens brother Jack.

In Geraldton electoral roll George living 159 George Rd with Lena, Peter Eugene and Shirley Margaret ? remarried ? children.

Eileen by 1963 living by herself 652 Newcastle St Leederville working as ledger machinist.
Eileen died 25 Oct 2000
NOTE: Service record has photos. Also archive 200245, 200254, 200255

Before the War
Eileen joined ‘The Sunshiners’. This club was made up of schoolchildren who wrote to Auntie Nell at the Daily News. Auntie Nell compiled the Children’s Page that was made up of leters from children, her answers to their letters and a number of puzzles and jokes. Prizes were given for the puzzles.
Eileen ceased writing (or did the Children’s page cease?) ca
In 1935 an article in the Sunday Times 1 Dec shows she was an assistant teacher to Evelyn Hodgkinson who produced a show at His Majesty’s theatre with her School of Dancing.
No actual oral history but we are lucky to have a handwritten account of her wartime on Rottnest from Eileen, dated 1987 and another article in the Rottnest Islander Sep 1994.

Known as “Basher Byers” but no indication why.

Synopsis of Written account of her time at Rottnest

First trip arrived on Zephyr, afterward many other craft used. No-one wanted to go with Gus Jansen’s boat on a rough day.

Eileen states that initially the male personnel didn’t talk to the women but that changed in no time.

Description of billets

The women were issued with khaki work frocks that buttoned up the front. These were not ideal for clambering up steep steps to Observation posts, so they were then issued with thick drill navy blue boiler suits that were all OS men’s size leftovers from WW1. They had to make their own alterations by the following day!

Their time was spent on parades, drills, and lectures, being driven around in trucks to see defence positions.

When they were sent to Oliver Hill their quarters were situated downhill from the men. Eileen says that they learned later that the men watched them with binoculars.

The quarters were all surrounded with large rolls of barbed wire which made it hard to get in and out. As well there was a password which was changed every day and was never to be written down. You had to use the password to get into the plotting room, guns, engine room and past the guards. The guards were men who were soldiers in WW1. Eileen calls them “the Dear Home Guards”, on duty in rain, hail, all weathers at night and you had to give the password to pass their position.

They had one day off a fortnight that was often spent swimming and sunbathing at Nancy Cove. An added attraction was that was the men’s day off too!

A home made medal was presented to first batch AWAS after they had been two years on island, described as a fun thing made from bully beef tins!

Eileen’s service record shows that she was born in Perth on the 19 January 1913. It gives her only sister as next of kin. She enlisted on 25 April 1942 at Swan Barracks WA then transferred to Heavy Artillery Fremantle Fortress on 22 August 1942. A month later she was posted to Kingstown Barracks on Rottnest and November that year to Oliver Hill.
In January 1943 Eileen became a Classified Instrument Operator TG2, and subsequently a Lance Bombardier in March 1943 and the same day was made a Bombardier. Once agin in February 1944 she was appointed a Lance Sergeant and sent to NCOs School
21 February 1944 Appt L/Sgt
26 February 1944 To AWAS NCOs School and promoted to Sergeant in May of that year.
She went to a number of other courses until she was discharged on 20 November 1945

After the war Eileen married George A Fane in 1947 in Perth.