Tuesday, 6 March 2012

6 March 1942–Smoke, Marches & AWAS

 

On 6 March 1942 the last allied plane flew out of Rangoon, Burma. The pilot was Sergeant R. P. Curtis of Manly, NSW, and the wireless operator-air gunner Sergeant J. L. Brinkley of Cottesloe, WA. Charges were set by the demolition crews of the retreating allies, and this photo by Sergeant Brinkley shows the smoke from one of these charges. A wing tip of their Blenheim aircraft is at the left of the picture.

smoke

In Melbourne, members of the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) give "eyes right" as they pass the saluting base during the Service Women's march through the city, whilst a little girl with an Australian flag over her shoulder watches.  I love this photo, don’t you!

girl

I hadn’t really heard of the AWAS until recently.  Here is an article about them with lovely photos , from The Australasian Magazine, February 1942.

awas womwn

Have a lovely vintage day.

Deb xxx

1 comment:

  1. Such lovely photos, those women and men were so brave its amazing. XxxX http://thesecondhandrose.blogspot.com/

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