Australian Women's Army Service

"AWAS" redirects here. For other uses, see AWAS (company) and Angkatan Wanita Sedar.

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

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.

  1. ^ "Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) and Royal Australian Women's Army Corps (WRAAC)". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 19 January 2007.