womensnationalemergencylegion

The WNEL was formed in September 1938 at a meeting in Brisbane chaired by Helen Ryan, who continued as the organisation's leader during the war.[1][2] At this meeting it was agreed that the WNEL would consist of a number of groups which would provide women with training in first aid, truck driving and other fields.[1] In March 1939 Ryan claimed that 1000 women were taking part in weekly training sessions run by the Legion. At this time the WNEL's first aid and home nursing unit had been divided into six sections and its transport unit was organised into several companies.[3] The WNEL was not part of the Australian military, but cooperated with the Department of Defence. In January 1939 the Sydney Morning Herald reported that only women of British ancestry were permitted to join the WNEL. At this time Dame Enid Lyons was the patron of the Legion and its advisory committee included the Premier of Queensland, Forgan Smith, and the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Alfred James Jones. The WNEL was also affiliated with the National Council of Women.[5] The Legion adopted a system of military ranks under which new recruits were designated privates, members in charge of a training function were lieutenants and the woman in charge of a branch had the title of 'commandant'.[6] From January 1939 the WNEL included an air wing which provided training in aircraft maintenance at Archerfield Aerodrome. This wing was led by Mary Bell, who was among Australia's first female pilots as well as the first Australian woman to qualify as a ground engineer. During July, Bell and the other members of the air wing left the Legion as they believed that the organisation would not help them to meet their objective to serve as aircraft maintainers during wartime; on the 17th of the month they formed the Women's Air Training Corps (WATC), and elected Bell its commander. By 1943 the WNEL included a Motor Transport Corps and clerical staff assigned to help United States military units in Australia. Women who volunteered for these roles could choose to not be posted outside of their home area.[2][17][18] At this time the WNEL's headquarters was located in Adelaide Street, Brisbane.[19] The WNEL was active as late as October 1947. Source: military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Women%27s_National_Emerg...

Some of the other photos in this series appeared in Pix on 25th July, 1942 in a pictorial on the Women's National Emergency Legion, titled 'Australian Girls with US Army'...according to Pix, the girl we see here driving the car was Pat West...though I suspect this might not have been her real name... nla.gov.au/nla.obj-434874248/view - see article on pp. 3-5

covid convict 👍

For what it's worth, pics 7 and 8 in this series were taken in Vulture St, South Brisbane, outside Somerville House school. During WW2 the school was evidently used as HQ for the US Army Services of Supply ("SOS") branch...my guess is all the other pics in this series might also have been taken in Brisbane. goo.gl/maps/NHdwEzAjooqoLmxa8 - Google street view showing the Vulture St entrance to Somerville House as it now appears. The Somerville House entrance appears in pic No. 6 in this series. My guess is the middle gate post might have been removed during WW2 to allow trucks etc to use the entrance, or maybe it was a later addition... In the background in the Google street view pic you can see the distinctive tower on the former South Brisbane Town Hall...it appears in pic No. 7 in this series...

I have to take back my comment above that Pat West might not have been the girl's real name! trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/98259623 - the Brisbane Sunday Mail, 29th June, 1941...pic here of Pat West checking her tickets to the Licensed Victuallers' annual ball...looks to be the same girl... As things transpire, it appears that Pat West was captured by the enemy! trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203226269 - Brisbane Truth, 8th May, 1949...'Social Jottings'...the 2nd paragraph here suggests she married Bradt M. Cameron of Birmingham, Alabama... trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/171959103 - the Brisbane Telegraph, 1st May, 1942...'US Army Pay'...I'd say this is the chap she married...'Second Lieutenant B.M. Cameron of Alabama'...they were evidently married in Brisbane in April 1944...QLD BDMs have Bradt Milroy Cameron ; Patricia Dorothy West...

www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/brandon-fl/patricia-ca... - ha! here's her life story...what an interesting life! www.ozatwar.com/people/patriciawest.htm - the Pix photos...plus a photo of her Driver Service pin and General Eichelberger's star...