A STRAW mattress, constant activity and the responsibility of standing guard were among the memories Anne Chapple’s mother Marjorie carried from her wartime service at the former women’s army camp at Bibra Lake.

Marjorie enlisted during World War II and was sent to Wagga Wagga to train how to operate and maintain searchlights used to spot aircraft off the coast, before serving at the camp near Hope Road.

“She said it was a reality check to have to sleep on a straw paliasse,” Ms Chapple said.

The women were kept busy with a range of duties, including maintaining equipment, looking after grease traps and standing sentry.

On one occasion, Ms Chapple’s mother nearly shot herself after discovering that the rifle she had taken over from the previous sentry had not been disarmed.

“She tentatively went and pushed the trigger and just about blew her head off, as well as the cook,” Ms Chapple recalled.

• Anne Chapple’s mother Marjorie outside her tent at the Bibra Lake women’s army camp. Photo supplied

Her mother served as a bombardier, a role Ms Chapple understood to be similar to a supervisory position, and was also put in charge of a camp at Garden Island.

She left the army in about 1944 after discovering she was pregnant, but the experience remained an important part of her life.

“They had a really strong bond, and Mum always said she cherished the years she spent in the army,” Ms Chapple said.

The women also faced attitudes that reflected the era in which they served.

Ms Chapple said another former servicewoman had told her that the Australian Women’s Army Service was jokingly given the initials-based nickname “always willing after sunset”, reflecting the assumption that women had enlisted to find men.

Ms Chapple said her mother’s experience had required considerable courage, particularly given that leaving home to enlist was the first time she had been away from home overnight.

The family’s connection to military history stretches beyond her mother’s service.

Ms Chapple’s grandfather Private Cuthbert Porter was the first occupant of Anzac Cottage in Mt Hawthorn, built by the community to provide a home for a returned soldier in gratitude for his service.

Now, new signage installed recently by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is helping recognise the history of the Bibra Lake camp and the women who served there.

Cockburn councillor Phil Eva said the recognition had been a long time coming.

“It’s fantastic that finally, it has been recognised with the signs,” he said.

Mr Eva had previously pushed for the council to instal signage on Hope Road, but said the proposal had not progressed because of funding issues.

The camp was one of the early women’s army camps in Australia, and its history attracted attention during the campaign against the Roe Highway extension through the area.

Mr Eva said investigations involving university researchers and metal detectors had found relatively little physical evidence because most of the camp had been removed after the war.

He said there were still some remnants, including a block and some sumps, toilets and other building foundations.

“But the rest were Nissan huts and various other structures that were taken away.”

The paths and outlines of the former gardens could still be seen at the site, he said.

Mr Eva said it was disappointing that the City of Cockburn had not done more to recognise the camp, but welcomed the new signage.

“I’m excited that we have finally got this recognition,” he said.

by STEVE GRANT