PIERPOINT (NORMAN), Gwenneth May
| Service Number: | WF91315 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 December 1942, Claremont, WA |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | HQ Western Command |
| Born: | Barnet, England, 10 June 1918 |
| Home Town: | Albany, Albany, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | General Clerk |
| Died: | Natural Causes, Albany, Western Australia, 20 October 2019, aged 101 years |
| Cemetery: |
Allambie Park Cemetery, Albany, Western Australia MG4 #3 |
| Memorials: | Albany Princess Royal Garrison Honours List |
World War 2 Service
| 27 Dec 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, WF91315, HQ Western Command, Claremont, WA | |
|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 1945: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Sergeant, WF91315 |
Help us honour Gwenneth May Pierpoint (Norman)'s service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Daughter of James PIERPOINT, 36 Mary Street, Como, WA
Born Gwenneth May Pierpoint in Barnett, England on 10 June 1918, Gwen as she was known, came to Perth, Western Australia with her parents as an infant after the First World War.
In 1942 she enlisted in the AWAS in Perth on 27 December and was trained as a Drill and Physical Training (PT) Instructor at the old Claremont Teachers College.
After progressing through the ranks from Private, Lance Corporal, Corpoal and finally to Sergeant, Gwen was posted to Albany in April 1943 and attached to the Albany Fixed Defence as Second in Charge (2IC) living at The Mount.
One of Gwen's main roles was as PT in Albany. She would walk to the Fortress each day to carry out her duties in keeping the women fit and disciplined. No songs were sung in drill training, rather Gwen used a side drum to keep the rhythm. When the Officer-in-Charlge (OIC) Lieutenant Okely went away, she would move up to the Fortress to supervise the AWAS stationed there.
Gwen met her future husband Gordon who was servicing in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR) in Albany. They first met at church and soon discovered that they were both living on Brunswick Road, Gordon's family house just beyond The Mount.
They both continued their service throughout the war and were married in December 1944. When Gordon was discharged from the Navy the moved to the family farm at Many Peaks, 40klms east of Albany. In 1947 they moved into Albany and took over the family's newsagency business.
Gwenn lived the remainder of her life in Albany until her death in 2019. She was 101 years old.
Source - Albany Gaol Museum
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