Conflicts : World War Two : Women's auxiliary services and Land Army

During World War Two women were able to contribute to the war effort on a far larger scale and across a much wider range of activities than in the First World War. The women who served overseas were mainly nurses, however, South Australian women also served at home as 'uniformed civilians' in a number of auxiliary organisations. One of those was the Australian Women's Land Army, formed in 1942 in response to the acute shortage of rural workers. Another group was the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). VAD members served as clerks and nursing orderlies in Australian army hospitals. One hundred and five VAD members served at the Australian General Hospital at Daw Park. Another group of women in uniform were the members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, 'the WAAFs'. The navy also employed women, initially as civilian telegraphists, but then through the uniformed Women's Royal Australian Naval Service, 'the WRANS', formed in 1942.