AWAS on Rottnest - W45670 HAMLEN
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of W45670 Private Jean Hamlen of Leederville, born Maylands
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, JOHNSON, 10 Light Horse (0.17km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia, 1116 BREMNER, 10 Australian Light Horse, 1915 (0.25km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3190 LEWIS, 10 Light Horse (1.21km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 64281 SMEED, 10 Light Horse (1.35km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1125 MILES, 10 Light Horse (1.38km away)
- World War 1, Europe, McLEAN (McClean?) 28 Battalion, 1919 (1.39km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 517 FERRIER, 10 Light Horse (1.62km away)
- 1984/85 Western Australian Brewers Claxton Shield Series squad (1.68km away)
- World War 2, Middle East, 10 (Aust) CRE, WX8385 PARLOR, 1942 (1.96km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, MELLOR, 10 Light Horse (2km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53361 HANSEN
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94559 HEGNEY (married HILSZ)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94125 HICKS
- 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