31st AWAS Barrack

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Brief History

31 AWAS Barrack was opened at Hobbs Hall, Karrakatta in April 1943 as a Leave & Training Depot (LTD) for up to 100 AWAS personnel who were either going on or returning from leave, or attending short term courses in Perth. In October 1944 they absorbed the neighboring 20 AWAS Barracks, expanding to cater for 200 personnel. In January 1945 the 6th Army Women's Service Training Company at Guildford was disbanded and the staff attached to 31st AWAS Barrack to continue training until the end of the war. The AWAS was disbanded in June 1947.

Passing through

• Roma Joyce Babb 13 - 19 Apr 1944
• Mary Rose Foxlow Watkins 4 Aug - 16 Sep 1944
• Marie Marguerite Gwynne 18 Oct 1944 to 24 Oct 1944
• Edith May Gregory 3 - 14 Feb 1945
• Vivienne Dittman 6 May - 5 Jun 1945
• Kathleen Winifred Golby 31 Oct - 2 Nov 1945
• Patricia June Somerfield 9 Nov 1945 - 20 May 1946
• Alice (May) Cardinal 8 - 11 Feb 1946
• Ruby Joyce Francis 16 - 18 Apr 1946
• Violet Whitehouse 29 Apr - 7 May 1946
• Joyce Curtis 30 Apr - 2 May 1946
• Margaret Frances Saw 28 May - 6 Jun 1946

Notes

Established in August 1941, the AWAS recruited women between 18 and 45, and more than 24,000 women nationwide enlisted during WWII. Women received wages only two-thirds of the male equivalent. The AWAS had 71 barracks nationwide, supporting women who completed a variety of different roles such as Transport Drivers, Cooks, Typists, Orderlies, Assistants, Telephonists, Canteen Attendants, Draughtswomen, Photographers, Photowriters, W/T Operators, Driver/Mechanics, Tailoresses, Waitresses, Textile Refitters, Equipment Repairers, Intelligence duties and Cypher duties.

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 6.025 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018