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The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was a non-medical women's service established in Australia during the Second World War. Raised on 13 August 1941 to "release men from certain military duties for employment in fighting units"[1] the service grew to over 20,000-strong and provided personnel to fill various roles including administration, driving, catering, signals and intelligence. Following the end of the Second World War, the service was demobilised and ceased to exist by 1947. It later provided a cadre of experienced personnel to the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps when it was established in 1951. The Service recruited women between the ages of 18 and 45 and it was initially envisaged they would serve in a variety of roles including clerks, typists, cooks and drivers.[2] During the war a total of 24,026 women enlisted (with a maximum strength of 20,051 in January 1944). The AWAS had 71 barracks around the country. They were paid wages equal to two-thirds that of their male equivalents. AWAS personnel initially served in Headquarters, and Base Installations, and later in a number of direct command Army units. 3,618 served with the Royal Australian Artillery and they manned the Fixed Defences of Australia from Hobart in the South and Cairns in the north, and Perth in the west. A total of 3,600 AWAS personnel served in the Australian Corps of Signals. Officers and other ranks of the Australian Intelligence Corps were involved in (and commended for) their highly secret work. Motor transport drivers drove cars, ambulances, trucks (up to 3 tons), jeeps, floating jeeps, Bren Gun Carriers and amphibious vehicles. By 30 June 1947 all members of the AWAS had been demobilised. The Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was formed in April 1951 to counter a manpower shortage that developed due to hostilities in the Korean Peninsula and post-World War II full employment.[5] At the time of its formation, many senior WRAAC personnel had previously served in the AWAS.[6] By the late 1970s female soldiers began integration into the Army at large and in early 1985, the WRAAC was disbanded. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Women%27s_Army_Service

Juan Francisco Urquidi, Mexican diplomat, brother of Manuel Urquidi (the finding aid for Manuel's papers gives some information about Francisco): www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/utlac/00214/00214-P.html

I started an entry for Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Francisco_Urquidi

NYT of May 30, 1914 query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1081EF93C5E13738... indicates that he conveyed a message from Mexican General Carranza to the Niagara Falls Peace Conference. His arrival clearly caused quite a stir. NYT of Jun 2, 1914 query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10F14FD355F13718... indicates that he was the "representative of the Mexican Constitutionalists in this country". The article is about threats against him and his family. NYT of Dec 15, 1914 "New Mexican War begins in New York" query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00E17FD3F5C13738... suggests a complex situation with two separate Mexican consulates. By then, Francisco Urquidi is described as representing the Villa faction (and not the Carranza faction). NYT of July 12, 1914 query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E16F9345D13738... indicates that Urquida was replaced as Carranza's representative by Modesto C. Rolland at the time of an attempt at conciliation between Villa and Carranza.

Thanks swanq and Richard Arthur Norton. It does seem likely that this is diplomat Juan Franciso Urquidi who participated at the Niagara Peace Conference in 1914. We will add more information to the description when we update.

All the best people were born on July 24.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Historic Heroines, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

I love the cat in the fire place.

Amelia Earhart was fearless. What an amazing woman!!!

I like the expression of immense achievement in her eyes.