WA Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service

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Brief History

The Western Command Defence Canteen Service was raised in September 1939 to operate the canteens in the training camps in WA. By April 1942 they had 242 staff operating 62 canteens with a bulk depot in Milligan street. By June the number of canteens had grown to 74, three of which were mobile, a half of the rest portable and the balance at permanent locations. In July 1942 they were re-organised as the Western Australian Line of Communication Area Canteens and by February 1943 they had 11 officers, 237 men and 113 AWASs. In June a canteen opened in Broome and the unit was re-named WA Detachment, Australian Army Canteens Service in February 1944.

As troop numbers in WA declined, some canteens closed and their staff numbers reduced so that by May 1945 there was only 7 officers, 112 men and 54 AWASs. This level was maintained until the end of the war.

Unit Personnel

• John Stephen Serventy 10 Oct 1942 - 4 Apr 1945

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 6.553 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018