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)
- Black and White photograph. Massingham Coop on corner of Sewell St and Massingham Street (0.06km away)
- Colour photo of Drapery section of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op (0.08km away)
- Colour photo of Hardware section of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op (0.08km away)
- 3 Colour photos of Hardware section of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op (0.08km away)
- Colour photo of exterior of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op. View of Sewell St/ Massingham St Corner (0.08km away)
- Colour photo of exterior of Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op. View of Massingham street frontage (0.08km away)
- Black and White photograph. Lowe's store 1926. Drapery, General Store, Mrs Young's Fruiterer and Post Office Situated at rear of Doodlakine Co-op Photo taken from site of Tiller's Butcher Shop (0.08km away)
- Colour photograph. Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op staff Xmas party early 1970's. Colleen Humpleby, Stan Humpleby, Ron Johnson, Charmaine Burke, Dawn Ware, David Smith (Mgr) Jane Williams, Andrew McLellan, Betty Johnson, Des Morgan, Linda Morgan, Jenny Wi... (0.08km away)
- Colour photograph 'Crink' Humbleby (Stan), Colleen Humpleby at Christmas Party for Kellerberrin Farmers Co-op early 1970's (0.08km away)
Nearby places: View all geotagged records »
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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