corps

NIce View of First Air depot Colombey-les-Belles (France) JMP

The Australian Women's Army Service became operational in October 1941. Preference was given to women with signals and administrative skills. They were paid wages equal to two-thirds that of their male equivalent. awas01.jpg (17396 bytes) Melbourne, Australia. 1942-08. Driver Doreen Kirkpatrick, of the Australian Women's Army Service wearing her best uniform and smile. They were restricted to service within Australia. The AWAS had their own rank and administrative arrangements and they reported to the Chief of General Staff (CGS). The Commanding Officer or "Controller" of the AWAS was equivalent to a Lieutenant Colonel. Approximately 24,000 women enlisted in the AWAS during WW2. 3,618 of these served with the Royal Australian Artillery (RAA) and 3,600 with the Corps of Signals. By 1945 some women were allowed to serve at the advanced headquarters in Lae, while some other were sent to Hollandia. A 1941 report on AWAS It is expected that by the end of the year Australia will have 20,000 women in the uniform of the Australian women's army service. Already five thousand of these women are on the army strength and have been able to release an equivalent number of men for more active service in the field. Should the 20,000 objective be reached it will mean that an extra division of fighting troops will be available for service in the front line. So far the women's army has only been used for light duties on headquarter establishments where they have been able to take over the work of clerks, orderlies, cooks, waitresses and motor drivers. Recently, however, some have been taken into the signals section of the army and it is expected that others will eventually be trained in the use of anti-aircraft equipments. The rapid progress made in the organisation of the AWAS, and the success that has crowned their work, is an indication that the women of Australia are gallantly taking their part in what is gradually becoming an "all-in national war effort". The formation of the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps was to become a reality after World War II and The disbandment of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) in June 1947. Source: www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww2/pages-...

VERDUN Gate JMP