AWAS on Rottnest - WF96196 MORROW
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of Signalman Esther Mary Kathleen Morrow of East Victoria Park, born Yarloop
In preparation
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.
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF91349 MORGAN (married CORNISH)
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45308 MEREDITH
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94473 McNAUGHTON (nee REID)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45944 McLEOD
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94845 McFARLANE
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53196 MATHER
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95023 SKITCH
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96130 SHEARER (nee KILGARIFF)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90382 SHOLL (nee WINNER)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94881 STANLEY (nee DUNSTAN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96462 STOCKDALE (married COOPER)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90465 SWEET (married WADE)