AWAS on Rottnest - WF90739 MASSINGHAM
1942Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF90739 Corporal Edith Irene Massingham of Kellerberrin
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:
- View of Massingham Street from West to East (0.04km away)
- Colour photo of exterior of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op. View of Sewell St/ Massingham St Corner (0.06km away)
- Black and White photograph. Massingham Coop on corner of Sewell St and Massingham Street (0.06km away)
- Colour photo of exterior of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op. View of Massingham street frontage (0.08km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3032 HARRISON (married LINAKER) (0.12km away)
- Black and White photograph Kellerberrin Hotel on the corner of Ripper St and Massingham St looking west (0.17km away)
- Black and White photograph. Kellerberrin Floods. Kellerberrin Town Hall, corner of Massingham and Ripper Streets (0.18km away)
- Black and White photograph. Kellerberrin Railway Barracks on the corner of Leake and Bedford Streets during 1963 flood (0.19km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 461 AMPHLETT, 10 Light Horse (0.2km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, 1181 LYNCH, 10 Light Horse (0.24km 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
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF94897 McGILLIVRAY
- AWAS service on Rottnest - WF54229 McKAY
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3194 McKENNA
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF3054 MESTON
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53064 MILLEN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF95020 MOLE
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96675 MORPHEW
- AWAS on Rottnest - W45321 PEARS (married PENISTAN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96592 WEST (nee MOURITZ)