Ill, p.99.non-fictionHistory of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Servicewomen's royal australian naval service, australia - royal australian navy - history

This uniform belonged to Marion Elaine Caffrey, nee Bullock (1920-1993). Marion was born and lived in Begonia Road, Gardenvale and attended Star of the Sea College with her younger twin sisters, Hilary and Margaret Bullock. Their family had been living in the district since 1892 when their grandfather, James Stewart, settled first at Brighton Beach before building a new home in Gardenia Road, Gardenvale in 1910. On leaving school, Marion took a job with the T&G Insurance Company in Collins Street. However, as the threat of invasion by Japan loomed closer following the bombing of Pearl Harbour and the fall of Singapore, in 1943 she volunteered to join Australia's war effort as part of the Women's Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS). She initially trained as a coder at HMAS Cerberus, followed by a posting to HMAS Magnetic in Townsville. By the time Marion arrived in Townsville in 1944 it was very much a garrison town, inhabited largely by Australian and American servicemen. Whereas in Melbourne the war in the Pacific may have felt somewhat distant, in Townsville it was very immediate. Though the town was never subjected to the heavy bombardments of Darwin, a series of small air strikes in July 1942 had made the fear of air raids quite real. The naval base HMAS Magnetic was responsible for communications, Port Examination Services and servicing of Allied warships. Marion worked as a coder, encoding outgoing transmissions and decoding incoming ones either manually or using a Typex cipher machine. In 1945, she completed additional training to attain the rank of Leading Coder. Her keenness for the work is evident in a note on her service record: although no WRANS women were ever sent to active warzones, Marion volunteered for overseas service. Marion later recalled her time with the WRANS as one of the happiest and most personally fulfilling times of her life. Like many Australian women, she embraced the opportunity to serve her country and take on roles traditionally reserved for men. She completed her three years' service at HMAS Harman in Canberra where she was de-mobbed in 1946. Afterwards, she secured a job with Metro Goldwyn Mayer, where she worked until her marriage to Hugh Caffrey in 1947.Second World War WRANS uniform consisting of a dark navy blue serge blazer (.1), skirt (.2) and hat (.3). The blazer features six buttons. The left arm features a black patch embroidered with a red anchor wrapped in a length of rope (a fouled anchor) with a single red chevron beneath, denoting the rank of Leading Wran (equivalent to Leading Seaman). The right arm features a black patch embroidered with red crossed flags over the letter 'C'. The pencil skirt is lined and fastens at the side with a button and snap fastenings. The navy felt hat features a round brim and a black ribbon band machine embroidered in gold with the words "H.M.A.S. HARMAN".Maker's label in collar of blazer reads "N491 / 1942 / SIZE [indistinct] / MADE IN AUSTRALIA" The label features a pen inscription, "BULLOCK". Size label in back of skirt: "2". Label inside the hat: "N18 / 1944 Size 20½ / MADE IN AUSTRALIA"1940s, marion elaine bullock, marion elaine caffrey, second world war, military uniform, wrans, women's royal australian naval service

Female Relative Badges were issued to the nearest female relative (usually wives or mothers) of those who engaged in active service overseas during the First and Second World Wars. Two Female Relative Badges were issued during the First World War. One was issued to the nearest female relative of soldiers, airmen, nurses, and masseuses who left Australia for active service abroad; the other to the nearest female relative of members of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) who had enlisted for general naval sea service for at least a period of the war, and who performed service outside Australian waters. A bar was suspended below the badge to indicate additional relatives involved in the war effort. The Female Relatives Badge was promulgated under Military Order 280 of 1917 and superseded by Military Order 1818 of 1918. (Australian War Memorial )So many Moorabbin Shire young men volunteered to serve in 1st AIF during WW1 . This caused great hardship for farming families especially due to the heavy manual labour that the Women had to undertake to maintain food production for Australia and overseas . This medal may be associated with Alonzo Sheldrake Box who served at Gallipoli and France Circular Silver medal with Crown , Blue engraving and pin clasp on back . A silver bar is attached Around edge ; Issued by Dept. of Defence to Women of Australia Centre cut out : A I F On Bar : For Duty Done On Back : Stokes & Sons 57691world war 1914-18, moorabbin shire, early settlers, pioneers, box alonzo, box william, australian military medals, anzac, gallipoli, sheldrake martha, box elizabeth, box mary louisa, closter mary, war memorials, a

Tape and glue bound paperback book with cover in poor condition with stains and corners curling. Tape on spine is light brown and text on cover is black. Tucked amongst the pages is the 'Servicewomen of Warracknabeal and District, Unveiling of Honour Board, Saturday, March 6th, 1999, Programme'non-fictionBook printed to coincide with unveiling of an honour board recognising servicewomen from the Warracknabeal and district area from the Boer, First and Second World Wars. Book contains a brief biography and photo of as many of the 68 women listed on the honour board as possible.australian nurses, australian army nursing service, australian army medical women's service, women's auxiliary australian air force, australian women's army service, royal australian air force nursing service, royal australian naval nursing service