Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/June 27

AWAS recruitment poster

The Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) was the Australian Army's women's service during World War II. The AWAS was formed in August 1941 with the goal of filling non-combat positions so that more male soldiers could be posted to fighting units. During the war a total of 24,026 women enlisted in the AWAS, which reached a peak strength of 20,051 in January 1944. The AWAS was the only non-medical women's service to send personnel overseas, with small numbers of women being posted to New Guinea and Borneo. While all members of the AWAS were demobilised after the war, the Women's Royal Australian Army Corps (WRAAC) was formed in April 1951 and was not disbanded until 1984 when women were integrated into the Army.