Pair of Headquarters Torres Strait Force colour patches : Lieutenant Colonel E F Parry, Australian Womens Army Service

Horizontally aligned square colour patch, divided purple over red, for Headquarters Torres Strait Force.

Worn as a distinguishing unit indication at the head of each sleeve for Headquarters Torres Strait Force from 1943 to 1944, and for Headquarters Torres Strait Area from 1944 to 1946. It is thought that these patches were collected by V345004 Lieutenant Colonel Eileen Frances Parry during her time travelling across Australia as a member of the Australia Women's Army Service Officer Pre-selection Board. Parry (later Macintyre) was born on 13 September 1913 in Melbourne. She 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.