Women's Auxiliary Transport Service WATS

WOMEN'S AUXILIARY TRANSPORT SERVICE WATS
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The Queensland Women's Auxiliary Transport Service or W.A.T.S. was founded by and headed by Mrs. Annabel R. Philp as Commandant in about April 1940. Their President was W. A. Jolly, M.H.R. The W.A.T.S. had registered itself under the Women's National Register as a separate organisation to the Women's National Emergency Legion which had broken away from. It had previously been the Transport Unit of the WNELs with its Transport Headquarters at Empire Chambers, Wharf Street and Mrs. Philp had been the Commandant for Transport of the WNELs.

Miss N. Bancroft, the Hon. Secretary of the Women's National Emergency Legion and Youth Movement stated in a letter to Mr. Fadden dated 21 May 1940:-

"Some little time ago Mrs. R. C. Philp, who was one of the Senior Officers of the Legion broke away for reasons best known to herself and took with her a small section of our girls., this was unfortunate as no doubt the fact that we were not fathered by the Commonwealth Government in the first place may have been responsible for some of the girls leaving our section."

"Mrs. Ryan who is head of our organisation is the founder of the Legion movement in Queensland keenly regrets this action of Mrs. Philp, and further regrets that she is contemplating registering our uniform in an effort to prohibit our girls from wearing it."

The W.A.T.S. had their Headquarters in Brisbane in the Gray's Building at 240 George Street in the city. They also had their own W.A.T.S. Rest Rooms in the Gray's building which offered refreshments for service personnel. The W.A.T.S. was the forerunner of the Australian Women's Land Army AWLA.

WATS Letter Head

The W.A.T.S. held a four day Easter Camp at the Labrador Memorial Hall, at Southport in March 1940. The four day program included a route march to Main Beach on Good Friday, a march past the Mayor of Southport and an inspection on Sunday morning, church parade on Sunday morning, and physical training and drill on Monday morning. Afternoons, which were free except for those girls who were on duty to prepare meals for the day, were spent fishing, boating, surfing, swimming and walking. Late leave was given to the girls for the evenings when requested. On Sunday afternoon, the Commandant Mrs. Annabel R. Philp entertained visitors, including the Mayor of Southport, Alderman J. W. Proud and his wife at afternoon tea. The four day camp was broken on Monday afternoon and most of the girls left Southport by train at 5pm. Others returned to Brisbane by car. The Commandant and two Officers returned to Brisbane the following morning.

After Mrs. Annabel R. Philp heard of the WAAAF's need for 100 girls as wireless Telegraphists she setup a Morse Code training course for no fewer than 1400 girls which started on Monday night 5 January 1942 in the Wool Exchange Building in Eagle Street. They would attend classes every night including Sundays for a three month period. The girls ranged in age from 19 to 40 years coming from places such as Dalby, Laidley, Toowoomba and even New South Wales. Flying Officer C. Robinson RAAF and other instructors had been lent by the RAAF to take the four classes simultaneously in the building each night. The RAAF also provided all the printed instruction material.

Mrs. Annabel R. Philp, Commandant of the W.A.T.S., in her report at the annual general meeting in the Lords Mayor Room of City Hall on Friday 3 July 1942, reported as follows:-

"We have seconded very large numbers to the Government and have put a smaller number into the A.W.A.S. although to this organisation we have given, I think, every draughtswoman and every dispatch rider they have recruited, and in the unexpected call-up of the Queensland quota of 300 for their new Signals Company, in the first day we sent them 142 applicants."

"The Ambulance Company of the A.W.A.S. has recently attracted many of our members, and with the addition of the very large number now doing Land Army work, the W.A.T.S. have through their training, placed more than 1500 girls in National work."

"We have the honour of being the first complete Mobile First Air Unit in Queensland, and I think the only one in Australia, 'manned' entirely by women."

"For this we shall have three ambulances, one mobile canteen to cater for injured, but not for well people, a utility for carrying our personnel, and two dispatch riders."

Referring to the W.A.T.S. affiliations, Mrs. Annabel R. Philp stated in her report:-

"Their activities are amazingly comprehensive, for among them we have camouflage net makers, spotters, papier mache workers, all branches of A.R.P. workers, ambulance drivers, and bus drivers. One affiliation has practically manned a fire brigade, and two are partly running an all-services canteen, and entirely running a very excellent rest house for men of the fighting forces, respectively. All this is in addition to the regular training."

Two of our affiliations have inaugurated, each in its centre, a Land Army farm for the training of young women, who will be invaluable in their assistance to the man on the land."

"Officers of whom special mention is made include Mrs. S. C. Lewis, who instructs first aid and home nursing classes seven days and seven evenings every week, and is in charge of the nursing side of the W.A.T.S. Mrs. C. Chester, who has complete charge of the entire mechanised unit, and instructs classes in mechanics; and Mrs. J. Currie, company commander of signals, who also looks after the Air Force side of the W.A.T.S. work, and instructs classes six night a week."

By June 1943, no fewer than 1800 ladies had attended training classes at W.A.T.S. Headquarters in Gray's Building and entered the W.A.T.S. On alternate Sundays W.A.T.S. members paraded for a short drill practice and every Sunday evening they conducted a dance in the Railway Institute, at Upper Edward Street to which all men and women wearing uniform were welcome.

At the Annual General Meeting of the W.A.T.S. on Thursday night, 23 September 1943, it was agreed that the WATS would purchase two mobile kitchens which would be driven and staffed by W.A.T.S. members. One would be based in Brisbane and the other in Ipswich. It was also decided to extend the Rest Room and to increase overnight accommodation. Of the 7,568 lb of cotton that had been picked by voluntary labour in Queensland during the season, 6,180 ld of it had been picked by Ipswich WATS members.

The W.A.T.S. Ambulance Section had a Depot at Charlotte Street. Members of the Ambulance Unit all wore the khaki uniform with forest green ties and W.A.T.S. hat-bands.

The VAD Club Room run by the Voluntary Air Detachments was also located in Gray's Building as well as the Polish Red Cross and the Communist Party!

The W.A.T.S. opened a Club Room in Brisbane Street, Ipswich for girls and servicewomen on Friday 16 February 1945. The rooms had been converted from their old training purpose to two rooms for use as a Rest Room and as a kitchen and lunch room. Whilst the club was primarily for returning servicewomen it would start to take in as members any girl or woman over 16 years of age. They ran classes in cooking, dressmaking, sweetmaking and handicrafts.

In about November 1945, the W.A.T.S. extended its club rooms in Gray's building by taking back space previously occupied by the V.A.D. Club. By the time there were some 8,000 girls in the W.A.T.S. Amenities at the W.A.T.S. club included a pianola, wireless, canteen, writing facilities, and card and games facilities. Light snacks were served free of charge at all hours of the day. The club continued to be open free of charge to all men and women of the services. By then it comprised three spacious rooms attractively furnished with cretonne-covered easy chairs and divans. The Commandant was very anxious for the returning Prisoners of War, service nurses and medical servicemen to get to know of the club's existence.

Photo:- SLQ