AWAS on Rottnest - WF45987 SANDERCOCK
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF45987 Signalman Joan Sandercock of Mount Lawley
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:
- Desk of Major General Gordon Bennett, 1942 (0.28km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90725 SHEEDY (0.35km away)
- Proposed bungalow residence for R.G. Lynne. (0.41km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, JACKSON, 10 Light Horse (0.47km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1705A EASTON, 10 Light Horse (0.58km away)
- Pre-World War 1, Australia Western Australia, SHACKELL, 1902 (0.66km away)
- World War 2, Middle East, WX19073 SHORT, 2/28 Battalion, 1943 (0.7km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 3271 SMITH, 10 Light Horse (0.76km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 881 McWATERS, 10 Light Horse (0.89km away)
- World War 1, England, 7139 STOREY, 28 Battalion, 1918 (0.89km away)
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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF2920 SANDS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90203 SAVAGE
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45450 SEAMON (married CONNIFF)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90725 SHEEDY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90198 SHERWOOD (married STAGGARD)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56797 SIMMONS
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53467 SLATER
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45872 SMITH
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45289 SMITH
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45388 SOLOMON (married McEVOY)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56840 SWEENEY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94298 TAILOR