Poster - AWAS for Anti-Aircraft Defence
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..
By 1944, AWAS were serving in Mixed heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries in static/fixed defence locations around Australia. Over 3600 AWAS served in Artillery Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft units
Details
Details
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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Uniform Accoutrements - Infantry Sergeant Service Dress
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 434 LOCKHART, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 438 MANN, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 500 WALES, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 492 THOMAS, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 441 MARKEY 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 440 MARKEY, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 442 MASLIN, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 443 MATHIESON, 10 Light Horse
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 448 MORPHET, 10 Light Horse and 1972 MORPETT, 28 Battalion
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World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 449 McCLEARY, 10 Light Horse
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