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" 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.
Northam, Western Australia, 1943. Minister for the Army Frank Forde and Lieutenant Ivy Levitzke inspecting Australian Women's Army Service personnel at the Western Training Centre
Belmont, Queensland, ca 1942. AWAS members instructed in the use of the Owen machine carbine
Brisbane 24 March 1945, AWAS from the Northern Territory during the Victory Loan March
The Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) was the women's branch of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). In 1941, fourteen members of the civilian Women's Emergency Signalling Corps (WESC) were recruited for wireless telegraphy work at the Royal Australian Navy Wireless/Transmitting Station Canberra, as part of a trial to free up men for service aboard ships. Although the RAN and the Australian government were initially reluctant to support the idea, the demand for seagoing personnel imposed by the Pacific War saw the WRANS formally established as a women's auxiliary service in 1942. The surge in recruitment led to the development of an internal officer corps. Over the course of World War II, over 3,000 women served in the WRANS.
A member of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service at HMAS Harman in 1941
WRANS at the Sydney 2015 Anzac Day march
A sketch of two WRANS working in the Fairmile Training School at HMAS Rushcutter by official war artist Rex Julius