Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Nola Hazel Kaus (102383), born in 1925 in Toowoomba. Nola Kaus was the youngest descendant of an old and distinguished Afghan Muslim family who served in Australian armed forces. Her grandfather, Abdul Kaus, was a well-respected community member in Brisbane and Adelaide. Her father, Herbert Kause (Abdul Ahad Kaus), served in the Australian Army in both world wars. Nola, the third generation of her family, was brought up in the Methodist faith. As a child, Nola Kaus played the piano; also, the organ at a local church. As an active member of a local community, she had an active social life. For instance, she was a member of the Pen Friends writing poetry and the Kindness to Animals League promoting the kind treatment of animals. As a young girl, she was a member of the 1st Toowoomba Brownie Pack, a youth organisation for girls and young women, becoming a Girl Guide in 1937 in the 3rd Toowoomba Company and the ‘Golden Link Brownie’ of Toowoomba, a Cub Instructor before enlisting in the WAAAF.

On 16 August 1944, at the age of nineteen, Nola enlisted in Brisbane in the WAAAF as a clerk, with the rank of Aircraftwoman. In her attestation paper the next of kin was Abdul Kaus. Nola was keen to enlist prior to 1944, but her parents would not allow it, and her father was particularly against her joining the army. However, determined to serve her country, she was posted to 6 Recruit Depot, Sandgate (No 74 Recruit Drill Course) from 17 August until 18 September, 1944. From 19 September, 1944 until 11 February, 1946, she was based at 3 Central Recovery Depot, Amberley, and whilst being stationed here, Nola was a Cub Instructor with the Tivoli Hills Pack until she was posted to Sandgate.

In their spare time, there were some social and sports activities among military personnel, reported by Nola’s daughter and son. They said that ‘while serving in the Air Force, Nola broke her ankle, and was a patient in Brisbane at Greenslopes Hospital for wounded service personnel’. During her stay in hospital, she did ‘a popular pastime of embroidery and met servicemen who were recuperating from injuries and being rehabilitated’. In return, she was ‘given gifts such as a woven and decorated tray and a hand-stitched leather attaché case made by some of the servicemen she met’. The time spent in the hospital also reflects the fact that small activities, such as those by injured Nola, were appreciated among the wounded and sick military personnel. After being recovered, soldiers erected a communications hut behind the grass tennis court, and Nola often played cricket and tennis with them.

From 11 February 1946 until 26 July 1946, she was based at 3 Personnel Depot, perhaps in Sandgate. On 26 July 1946, AC/W Nola Hazel Kaus was transferred from 3 Personnel Depot to 3 Personnel Depot Disc., possibly leading to her discharge on 8 October, 1946. After her discharge, Nola returned home, although she badly wanted to re-enlist for another term. However, she was needed by her mother to help look after her younger siblings. She did return to help look after her younger siblings and also being a cub master, which she loved. She continued as a leader of the 4th Toowoomba Pack. Nola was able to upgrade her skills in commercial subjects and found a job in the office of a large Toowoomba department store. She met, an English soldier, who had resettled in Australia after the war, and they were married in 1951. Together they had four children.

Nola loved her time in the Air Force, especially the camaraderie of her fellow servicewomen, and she kept in touch with many of them for the rest of her life. Perhaps this was because it was her first time away from her family and its attendant responsibilities. She was a member of the local WAAAF Association branch in Toowoomba, and the Ex-Servicewomen’s Association. She attended regular meetings, and reunions throughout Australia. Apart from her service in the WAAAF, Nola lived her life in Toowoomba, and loved keeping in touch with past and present friends. In 1989, she joined Trefoil, the adult section of the Girl Guides, which links current and former members. She attended meetings and social occasions, and with the various ex-service associations, was kept busy. Her poetry and stories were published not only in school magazines, but in various local newspapers. Like her parents, she was an avid reader, throughout her life. She also kept scrapbooks on various topics, including her scrapbooks on Toowoomba and its history, throughout her life. Nola also volunteered at a local primary school, tutoring pupils in reading. She passed away in 2010.


From the book:

Dzavid Haveric, 'A History of Muslims in the Australian Military from 1885 to 1945: Loyalty, Patriotism, Contribution', Cambridge Scholars Publishing, London, 2025.