AWAS on Rottnest - WF90205 THIEL (married DONOVAN)
Documentation relating to the AWAS service of WF90205 Private Kathleen Verna Thiel (married name Donovan) of Bassendean, born Swan View
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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:
- 12 Amherst Road, Swan View. (0.84km away)
- World War 1, Western Australia Blackboy Hill Camp, 1915 (1.32km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Blackboy Hill Camp, 1916 (1.32km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Blackboy Hill Camp (1.32km away)
- World War 1, Western Australia Blackboy Hill, 1916 (1.32km away)
- World War 1, Australia, Western Australia, Blackboy Hill Camp, 28 Battalion, 1916 (1.33km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Blackboy Hill, (1.33km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Blackboy Hill Camp, MAWDELSLY, 1916 (1.33km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Blackboy Hill, (1.33km away)
- World War 1, Australia Western Australia Blackboy Hill Camp, KENNEDY, 1916 (1.33km away)
View all geotagged records...
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF53916 TOWES
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96651 TRANTER (married HONE)
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF93958 TREE
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF56643 TRUEMAN
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF15701 TUCKER
- AWAS on Rottnest - WF96213 TUNBRIDGE
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- AWAS on Rottnest - WF45397 WANN (married JOHNSON)