| Accession Number | P03226.001 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: New South Wales, Singleton |
| Date made | c 1941 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Portrait of Corporal (Cpl) Gladys Coates, Signals Corps, Womens Air Training Corps (WATC). Cpl ...
Description
Portrait of Corporal (Cpl) Gladys Coates, Signals Corps, Womens Air Training Corps (WATC). Cpl Coates, a school teacher at Cessnock, joined the Newcastle Branch of the WATC in 1940, where she was promoted to corporal for proficiency in morse code and signalling. Cpl Coates' main duty was the instruction of morse code with most of her trainees, a large majority of these being women, awaiting call-up. In 1943 Cpl Coates resigned from the WATC when she moved to teach at the Sandy Flat School, near Tenterfield, NSW. Cpl Coates' uniform (pictured) is of khaki cotton twill (or Summer drab), standard issue for the WATC and was worn all year. The hat was the standard Air Force blue with the collar and belt of the same colour, and brass buttons were used for the coat front and pockets. The letter and number on the left shoulder were of the same navy blue cotton fabric, and the 'S' above the number stood for the Signals Corps.