2/4TH WOMEN’S SOCAL CIRCLE GROUPS- PERTH & BASSENDEAN 1941-1947
Social Circles were established for wives, mothers, girlfriends sisters during WW2. As Mrs Green (wife of Lt Charles Green) wrote, members met by a common bond –
to cheer and support each other and exchange what valuable and meagre news was to hand.
The 2/4th appeared to have two groups – Bassendean and one in the city.
There were social groups for other Battalions such as 2/3rd, 2/28th and 2/11th. No doubt there were groups in country centres.
Remember there were strict sanctiona on war time news – these women were really left in the dark and isolated not knowing if there loved one was dead, sick nor did they know where the POWs were located.
WHAT DID THE AVERAGE AUSTRALIAN KNOW OF POWS AND THEIR LIVES?
Many would not have had the luxury of telephones in their homes and certainly most did not have vehicles, they travelled with and relied entirely on public transport.
Below: In 1947 a reunion was planned.
Below: 1941 in the ‘Mary Ferber’ Daily Newspaper Women’s column the following was printed.
Below: Gordonb Bennett is invited to Social Circle card Party
Below: Funds raised for Red Cross 1943.
Below: In 1944 the Social Circle held a children’s party.
Below: we found this single notice for 2/4th Women’ Circle of South Perth in Nov 1942. Perhaps they amalgamated.
2/4TH BASSENDEAN SOCIAL CIRCLE
The families from Bassendean who were very likely members of this social circle would have included mothers of Tiny Lear, Maconachie, Wally Holding, Archie McIntosh.
Midland Born Tiny Lear who grew up at Bassendean was with ‘A’Coy. He died at Sandakan March 1945.
Scottish families who settled at Bassendean include Maconachie – who also died Sandakan June 1945 and Archie McIntosh with ‘F’ Force who died of illness Tanbaya Hospital Camp, Burma.
Below: Town Hall.
Below: it is not known who had the following placed in the West Australian.
