Pair of shoulder slides : Major E F Parry, Australian Womens Army Service

Pair of khaki cotton drill Australian Women's Army Service shoulder slides. There is a woven crown for the rank of major and below this are the embroidered initials 'A.W.A.S'.

Worn by V345004 Eileen Frances Parry (later Macintyre), born on 13 September 1913 in Melbourne. Parry trained as a nurse at Saint Vincent’s Hospital, graduating in 1936. She enlisted in the Australian Women's Army Service (AWAS) on 19 November 1941 and was chosen as one of the Service’s 28 original officers. After attending 1 AWAS Officer’s Training School at Yarra Junction Victoria, Captain Parry was appointed Commanding Officer of the AWAS Recruit Training School, Southern Command, in January 1942. In October the unit expanded and became 4 AWAS Training Battalion, Victorian Lines of Communication Area. Parry was promoted to major on 11 March 1943, and in April was transferred to 2 AWAS Training Battalion at Ingleburn, NSW. In August Parry was posted to Hobart with AWAS Headquarters, Tasmanian Lines of Communication Area as assistant controller. Her role was to administer the Service and advise the commander of the area on the welfare of AWAS personnel. In April 1944 Parry was appointed deputy controller and transferred to AWAS Land Headquarters, Melbourne. She was later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in October. As deputy controller, Parry assisted AWAS founder, Colonel Sybil Irving, and undertook inspection tours across the country as a member of the Officer Pre-selection Board. Parry was discharged on 15 November 1946.