AWAS service on Rottnest - WF54229 McKAY
1943Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF54229 Lance Corporal Jean Loveday McKay of Claremont
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:
- Interwar, Australia Western Australia, BRICK, Australian Army Medical Corps 1920 (0.52km away)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90382 SHOLL (nee WINNER) (0.69km away)
- World War 2, Australia Western Australia, 1942 (0.8km away)
- Sketch plans of proposed residence for T.J.B. Wearne. (1.07km away)
- 63 Watkins Road, Claremont (1.38km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, HAMMOND, 10 Light Horse (1.42km away)
- 11 Goldsmith Road, Claremont (1.45km away)
- 39 Riley Road, Claremont (1.49km away)
- 27 Riley Road, Claremont (1.56km away)
- Keith And Gail Henneker, 66 Victoria Avenue, Claremont (1.66km away)
View all geotagged records »
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96592 WEST (nee MOURITZ)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90726 MURRAY
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF90136 NOACK (married NEWMAN)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93345 CHISHOLM (nee PALMER)