AWM52 1/11/18/1 - 1946, part 1, Headquarters London Victory March, Contingent list - Part 7

Conflict:
Second World War, 1939–45
Subject:
  • Documents and letters
Status:
Open to contributions
Accession number:
RCDIG1020018
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Page 1 / 10

S3 H. Flicht Lieutenant F.M. STEVENS. D.F.C. (Pilot). Served with Bomber Command and in the Pacific Area. I. Flight Lieutenant N.F. WILLIANS. C.G.T., D.F.M. 4 BAR (A. Gunner). Served in Bomber Command, Pathfinders and in the Pacifie Area. At the conclusion of hostilities was on his fourth tour of Operations. The most highly decorated N.C.0. in British Air Forces. J. Flight Lieutenant J. WBICHT (Enuingent Officer) Captured at SINCAPORE and held three and a half years as P.O.W. in Japanese hands.
Bik.k.F. The Air Forces was the first of the Australian Defence Forces to call for the services of women in duties formerly done by men. Final approval for the formation of a Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Forces was given by War Cabinet on hth February, 1941 and the Service came into being in early March, 1941. By the end of hostilities, over 26,000 women had served in the W.A.A.A.F. and over 70 seventy musterings had been opened to women. By far the largest occupational group in the W.A.A.A.F. was the communications and radar group. Other important groups were the general administration (clerical), hangar, tarmac and transport (technical), domestic, medical and dental. No W.A.A.A.F. personnel were permitted to serve outside the limits of the mainland of Australis Five airwomen and one W.A.A.A.F. Officer were selected to represent the W.A.A.A.F. in the Victory March. Flight Sergeant R. CALDWELL, Equipment Assistant, is from New South Wales and spent most of her service carcer at a large Stores Depot in N.S.W. as N.C.O. in charge of Aircraft Electrical Equipment. She also spent some time at an E.A.T.S. school located in N.S.W. She is one of the few members of the W.A.A.A.". to receive a Good Conduct Card. Sergeant L.M. IRRSTRONG, Clerk Ceneral, is from Tasmania and spent 20mmonths at an Aircraft Depot, Victoria, in charge of all postings of that Depot. For 2 years she served at Air Force Headquarters, as a stenographer in the section dealing with establishment of all machine tools and handling equipment issued in the Service. Sergeant S. GALT enlisted in Victoria as a Mess Stewardess and spent 3 years of her h years service training Mess Stewardesses at a training school in South Australia, and later, after re-mustering, worked as a Clerk Librarian at Air Force Headquarters where she helped to introduce the Dewey system of
classification as well as dealing with all Air Publications as they arrived direet from England. She was one of the first W.A.A.A.F. discharged under the points system (in October, 1945) and re-enlisted for this March. Sergeant GALT is the widow of the late Flying Officer David GALT, D.F.C., R.A.A.F., Pilot, who flew Lancasters and Sunderlands from bases in England. Sergeant M. McKINNON represents Western Australia and had 4 years 3 months service as a Clerk General. Most of her service was spent at E.A.T.S. schools in different States of the Commonwealth, with three months at the Directorate of Flying Safety, Air Force Headquarters. When selected for the Victory Contingent, she was stationed at a Discharge Squadron of a Personnel Depot in her home State as N.C.O. in charge of Vocational Guidance Orderly Room. Her work in the W.A.A.A.F. has embraced all phases of Orderly Room procedure, as well as Court reporting at Courts Martial and Civil Compensation Court cases. Sergeant J. McLEAN, Clerk General, is from Townsville, Queensland, and served three years at a Training Group Headquarters in New South Wales in charge of the Orderly Room and later the Secrety Registry. She was then transferred to an Operational Training Unit in N.S.W. where aircrew personnel were trained to fly Beaufighter and Mosquito aircraft. She was in charge of the Training Wing Orderly Room for 16 months. Squsdron Officer D. CCARTER of Victoria was in charge of the W.A.A.A.P. Officers' training course for a period of two years. For a further 2 years she was principal W.M.A.A.F. Rehabilitation officer at Air Force Headquarters. Before being selected for the Victory Contingent she had been for six months on the staff of the Ministry of Post War Reconstruction and will be returning to her position in the Re-establishment Division on return to Australia.
-R.A.A.F. NURSING SERVICE. The R.A.A.F. Nursing Service, formed in July, 1940, on the lines of the Princess Mary Nursing Service, grew from the twelve initial members to nearly 700 at the cessation of hostilities. Members of the R.A.A.F.N.S. served on Air Force Stations throughout the Commonwealth of Australia, in New Guinea and on transport duty to England, Canada and America. In 1944 the Medisal Evacuation Air Transport Unit was formed and specially trained Flight Sisters assisting in this work have served in New Guinea and the surrounding islands and assisted in the evacuation of P.O.W.s from Singapore and the surrounding Japanese prison camps. In thousands of flying hours two only of these sisters were lost whilst on duty. -Matron Jean ATLEY, the only representative of the R.A.A.F.NS. with the Australian Victory Contingent, was the first member of this service to receive a decoration, being made an Associate of the Royal Red Cross whilst serving in New Guinea in 1943. Matron WHEATLEY, since joining the service in 1941, has served in Aurstralia, on transport duty to America, and was in charge of the first members of thetR.A.A.F.N.S. to leave Australia as a Unit, serving in New Guinea from 1942-1944.
The Members of the Australion Womens Army Service do similar work to women in the ATS. They were enlisted to release men for frontline duty and have done much to solve Australia's manpower problem by providing power behind the Army machine in the forward areas. aamide Since the commencement of the Service in Nevemter 1941, they rapidly expanded until they became the largest Army Womens Service with an enlisted total of They have undertaken work hitherto only 23,000. performed in the Australian Army by men. Drawn from women of all walks of life between the ages of 18 and 40, they have worked as Intelligence and Cipher Officers, asSignalwomen, in Anti-aircraft and Searchlight Units, Some have as Cooks, Orderlies and Transport Drivers. worked in Cartographic Units preparing and photographing maps used in all Australian campaigns, in parachute folcing units, as instrument mechanics and repairers in Ordnance Units, os biochemists testing tinned food for Army and Air Force, and even carried out intricate tests on mustard gas in small islands off the Queensland Coast. The AWAS members of the Contingent come from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia and have all had long service. Officer - Major Kathleen Deasey from Victoria. Asst Controller at Army Hg in Melbourne, was one of the first Officers appointed, and her work has taken her to all units where AWAS have served. Shiiegpahet o) Huugdeng WNeg radndge Sgt Beryl Randlo from Malvern, Victoria was one of the 500 AWAS permitted to serve in New Guines. In addition to signals and clerical duties, A AS have worked there as Interpreters in interrogation of Japanese POW, and one has had charge of a school for Chinese refugee children. Sgt Iris Parkes has been an administrative NCO with motor transport trainees. The girls she has looked after have in many units staffed entire car Prior to companies and ambulance car companics. leaving in the Contingent she completed an Army Womens Services Homemakers Course where she qualified as an Aus Instructress in dressmaking, needlework, housewifery and child welfare. Cpl Fhyllis Hird from Perth, Western Australia is representative of any of the ASAS who have worked During recent preporation of lists for in records. relatives and press of 18,000 Australian POw she, like many AWAS, has worked long hours overtime. Gunner Betty Miller from Bogabilla on the Queensland border has served on an A/A gunsite, and when /A units were disbanded, served as a general duty women. AWAS in Artillery and Scarchlight units formed three quarters of the fixed defences of the vast coast of They have worked in small numbers in Australia. isolated units, their work often taking them to lonely islands with mosquitocs and sandflies as companions and to sandhills and edges of swamps. i
TEE AUSTRALIAN VICTORY MARHCOI TNGENT. 1. GENEBAL The Australian Victory March Contingent is composed of members of the three Services with representatives from the Women's Services included in the doyal Australian Navy, the Australian Military Forces and ths Noyal Australian Air Force Components. Personnel ere draen from all Arms ani Services of the Australian Forses, and are divided between all States of the Commonwealth. The e are 85 each from New South Wales and Victoria, the wo mes: populous State:. 2. CDMMANDERS Major-General K.W. Mather. WPF. D50. Mn, commands the Contingent of 250 all rants. Hi: pravious command include 2/1 Infantry Battalion in the Western Desart. 2 Infantry Brigade in the Middle Mast, Jer Guinea and Rorzwe and finally il Australian Division in Now Britain, The Royal Australian Navy Compchent of 30 including two officers and two memters of the Wamens Services, is commanded by Lieutenant-Commander N.I. Peek, ORE, ESS, RAN. who received his awards as Gunnery Of'iser en HMAS "Austra ia" during operations in the Philippines. The Army Compenant of 160 wnich incluJes twelve officers and ten members of the Women's Services, is commansed by Brigadier M.J. Moten, CRE, DSC and Bar, Eb. who received his awards as battalion commander in jyria and as a Erigade commander in some of the grimmest figuting in New Guinea. Cemmanding the Rayal Australian Ai: Force Component of sixty, of whom ten are officers ani seven are members of the Wemen's Services, is Wang Cemmander M. Yingsford-Smith. DSO. DFC. a nephew of the jamous flie:. whe at 2? cemnanded the famed 463 Bomber Squairen in Anglin!. Col-nel A.M. Sege, RRC, Mat:on-inc hief o" the Australian Army Nursing Serzice. and Theer Nficer s.M. MeClemens, WRANS, are the Senior Offi'ers of the Wemen's Services. 3. DECOSATTON; Thre holders of the Vietor a Cross are with the Contingent. Ste 2. Kalliher. WC. wh: Teft Ire and seventeen years ago to live in Queensland, won nis award for outstanding bravery at Nadzab in New Guinea in 1943 sjt R.H. Rattey, JC, and Fte F.J. Partridge, VC, who are bath frem New Scuth Wales. received their awards for great gallautry on Bcugainville in the Solomon Islands in 1945. The 97 Army deccrations include 2 CFE's, 3 DSO's, 1 RRC, é C's, 1 ARRC, 19 DCM's. 45 MTs, 3 BEM's, 1i MID':. the American DSC and Silver Star, and the Dutch Eronze C-.5s. Sit J.K. Weston, DIM, MM. Sit H.J. Foll. DCM, M Sit J.H. Daniel. DCM. MM, and Sit G.F. Murphy. MM and Her. at- fought with famcus AIs Battaliens in the Middle Mas and in the Ilands.
28 members of the Naval Component have earned hotweon them 2 E I 5SS, 2 CM's, 23 DSx's, 1 HZM, i lds war Model, 1 Groek ad s. Lieutenant- Cemmander C.J. Cliff ORE, George Medal and Bar. RANJN, engaged in mine recovery and disposal in the United Kingdom throughout the War years, gained four awards - in turn, the c, Bar to M, ME and finally the OEE. luded in the highly decraed AAr Component are Soes. an ARRS. an ORF, an ME. ? HEC's, 2 Bars to Snders F"" mAS, & T"MOs. A DLN and Sar, A REM's and 16 's. At one tine the mos; highly decoratad N’O in the pritizh Alr Forwes, Flighte ieutenant N.F. Williams. On. HF and rar, and the hofder of the only Vilitacy ross aarded to a HAAS member in the Seuth-West Pacific Area. Flight-Lieutenant Traetz, MS, are members of the Kir Furce Compenent. "AMFAIGN ANKA 4. The Naval Cemponent has been selected frem all ranches of the Service, and they include Chief Terty Officers. Tetty Officers. Telegranhists. Sick Ferth Attendants. Able Seamen and Stokers. Their awards have been gained in all parts of the world from the United Kingdom to the Fhilippines. The Atiantic donvoys, the Maita Suicide Run", the Tobruk "Ferry", the evacuations from Gresee and Srete, the Singapore disasfer, the Fismorck Pautie, the Hattle of Matapan, the warwin bembing, the Battle of the Selomons and the great bartles in the Chilippines are all worthily represented by men who served in same of Australia'a famous fighting ships - he erulsers hanberra, Hebart" Sydney" Australia hrapshire and he desroyers Stuert Nizam". Nastor apher.sherhen" Mbandettd "W yager" and "Arunta. In the Army jempenent are twelve original AI¬ nirments wh. ich include the Jonmander, Majer General Aather. Wbs So, E5, who was the or girsl a] of 2/1 Infantry Hatrallen thich. under his command. pened the account for Pustralia at berdis in 1540. and Lieutenant S.H. Feck, Dox. who was weunded and captured in Crete after zerving with 2/ Infantry Pattalion in Libya and Creese. After his capture his exploits in Eurcpe included service with partisans in "ugoslavie, Italy and Cermany during which time he escaped eigut times from prison camps. Many others are veterans of Tobruk, El Alamein, Syris, Greece and Crete. There are men who served in every phsse of the Pacifie War - in Malaye, Timor, Ambon, Milne Bay, the Owen Stanleys, Wan, Lee, Finschhafen, Wewak, New Britain, Bougainville and Bornso. Eight members were with the Occupation Forces in Japan at the time of solection, and sixty were back in civilian life. The famous 6, 7 and 9 Divisions are represented by half of the Army Component. The Air Force Component has represontatives from every thestre of War in which Eritish troops were engaged. Twenty-two served in the Pacifie Theatre, nine in the Middle East, fifteen were in cperations over Europe, three served in Darwin, two in the disastrous Malayan campeign, three in England, and one flew from Malta during the siege. There are four Pathfinders including Squadron Leader 9. Swan, D6O, DFC and Bar, a Master Bomber with the greatest number of sorties of any Australian, to his credit. He commanded the famous 460 Squadron. 5- PREnOUS gs vogretaws Forty members have previously visited England,
nearly all serving there with the Forces. However. two interesting members are Squadron Offecer Doris Carter in charge of the WAAAF, who visited Eng and in 1936 after representing Australia at the Olympi: Cames in Berlin, and WO I G.J. Watson, RS of the Army Compenent, who served as a Gunner in the 1937 Coronation Contingent, Seventy members have rela ives in the United Kingdom, and a few have their families waiting to welcome them home. NIFI fows 6. I The Army members are wearing a distinctive Rising Sun patch beneath an "Australia" flash, and previous unit miniature colcur patch. The RAAS ais wearing their distinctive blue uniform with an "Australia" flach on the upper sleeve.
---- hineteen membere of the Australian Victory Mar:h Contingent are females. They rpresent the WRANS, HANNS, ANAS, AANS, AAMC, AAMWS, WAAAF an PAAFNS. (hief Pfficer S. MeCLEM NS, WRANS and Sister C.S. WILSON. RAMNS are the only twe in Nevy blue. Cl A.M SAGE, RRS, AAN , satren in Chief and Capt K.P. BONNIM, ARAC, AANS waar the ey uniform of the Army Nursing Sszvice. Zajer J.L. OHS STIE, AAZStS and Cpi L.F. WAENE, SEMAAMT. rapresent the acical Wemens Servics and Lt L.C. EARR, a Thysiotheraplst. eprssents the Medica! Corps The Australian Wemens Army Seiviee, similar in funstion ta the AfS, have five mambors with the C niingent. They are Major M.K. PEASET, AWAS, SIt I.L, SARKE , AWAS, Spt R.S, RANELE, AWAS. Srl P.M. HIBD, AWAS, and Gnr P.T. SILLES, AWAS. The Air Forse Auxillasy is represented hy six members with Sqn/Offr D.J. CARTER WAAAF as the senior member. Uthers ara F/Sjt R.F. C LIWELL, WAAAF. Sit E.M. 34LT. WAAAF, SIt H.M. MeKINNON, WAAAF. j1 L-H. ARMSTRONT, WAAAF, and Sjt J. MEUEAN, WAAAF. The Air ree Nursing Service is represented by Matron A.J. WHEATU Y, ARRC, RAAFNS, The two largest Womens ervices in Australia are the WAS and WAAAF and each, at their peak period, contalned about 20,000 members. Their main func ien was to relieve men in base areas, with the result that he 300 AwAS who served in New Guinca in the final stages of the Pacific war, ware the nly members of the twe r who served outside Australia. Sit E.G. RANOIE, AWAS was ono of he lueky ones who served in New Guines The greatast streng'h of whe WHANC, the Australian version of the REND was ion pone of whom served outside Australia he AS, well known foy theis heroie werk in the Western Desert, Greece, Syria, la aya and the Islands Campaigns, werd the original Womens Service an the Australian Forces in World War AI. The RAAFNS and th TANNS both much smaller nursing orgenizations, maintained the Florenes Nightingale traditions in Australia and New Glrea. The AAMWS were originally VALz, but as the organ zation expanded to nearly 6,000 members, it was decided to anlist the girls in the Army Service. A few hundred only ser ed cverseas in the Middle East, Ceylen and The Islands, Cpl L.F, WARNE, ESM serving on Oranje'. the Hospital Sni,
NAvAL vTCfORY CONYMOEMT. Ihe Naval Victory Contingent inolpiess 2 offtoere, 1 W. R.A.N. Offioer, 1 Naval Nursing Sister, 26 ocher ranks, neking the total strength 30. Ihe contingent is led by Lieutenent Commender R.I. Peek, O.B.S., D.S.c., R.A.N. (Senior officer) and Lieutenant Commander G.J.Cliff, O.B.E., c.M. 4 Ber, R.A.N.V.R. Chief Officer S.MeClenans represents the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service and Sister C.Wilson, the Royal Australian Naval Nursing Service. Ihe men have been seleoted from all branches of the Navy and inolnde Chief Petty Officers, Petty Officers, Delegraphists, Sick Berth Attandants, Able Seaman, and Stokers. Iheir wvards have been gained in service in all parts of the world and are representative of all sections of the R.A.M. cctivities. fwenty-eight members havo carnod betreen them, 2 0.B.S's, 1 M.B.S., 1 D.s.c., 2 c.M.., 23 D.s.., 1 B.z.M., 1 Lloyd's War Medal, 1 Greck Medal and 7 mentions in despatches.

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