Sergeant Glynneath Cody

Sergeant Glynneath Powell, c. 1943. AWM P01985.002

Glynneath was born in Western Australia in 1917. She had three uncles who served in the First World War. When the Second World War began, her brother and sister joined the war effort, and Glynneath also wanted to do her bit, joining the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD). In 1942 she was the first VAD member to be sent to Northam to relieve male orderlies.

Glynneath worked in the camp hospital, taking temperatures, making beds, and providing simple treatments, including assisting with inoculations. When the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS) was formed in December 1942 Glynneath was keen to apply. She was sent to Hollywood Hospital in Perth and spent 18 months working in the blood bank.

During Glynneath’s wartime service, day-to-day necessities such as tea and sugar were rationed. When the AAMWS members had their six days’ annual leave they received extra ration coupons so as not to impose upon their families’ limited resources. One big treat was a coupon for a 100-gram block of chocolate.

When the war ended, Glynneath helped care for repatriated prisoners of war, many of whom were very ill and required careful nursing. Lance Corporal Les Cody from the 2/4th Machine Gun Unit had been a prisoner of the Japanese on the Burma–Thailand Railway. Glynneath and Les fell in love and married in January 1948, later raising two sons and two daughters.

Activities

Women made a significant contribution to Australia’s war effort during the Second World War. How might they have been able to offer assistance? Why were so many women needed for different roles?

Maurice Bramley and the Department of National Service, Join us in a victory job, (c. 1943, lithograph on paper, 48.2 x 60.4 cm, AWM ARTV08836)

The Red Cross sent care parcels to prisoners of war. What items would have been included in these parcels? How might the men have felt when receiving them? You will find this link useful.

A Red Cross food parcel carton belonging to Private Reginald Glanville, 2/7th Battalion, c. 1943, AWM REL/18421

In 1993 Glynneath travelled to Canberra to carry the AAMWS banner at the entombment of the Unknown Australian Soldier. Do you think this would have been a proud moment for Glynneath? Who might she have been thinking of while attending the ceremony?

Glynneath Cody (left) holds the banner of the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service at the ceremony to mark the entombment of the Unknown Australian Soldier at the Australian War Memorial, 1993, AWM P01985.004