Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Bob Howsan’s sister, Hazel ‘Bebe’ Howsan (QF272274), of ‘olive complexion’, was born in 1922 in Brisbane. She was a single woman, working as a law clerk. Hazel also called ‘Lucy’ as a talented girl was listed among successful country candidates in the State scholarship examinations in Maryborough. She was a member of the milk and cream testing club at the Goomeri State School and also competed in the school’s race on bicycles. At the outbreak of the war, she volunteered at the General Hospital, and her brother Bob while fighting in Europe wrote to the parents, ‘Tell her [Hazel] I’m glad she’s done this as it is ‘far better than doing housework at home’ [and] it is worthy to be in ‘a job of national importance’ when some of the wounded soldiers are returning home.

Private Hazel ‘Bebe’ Howsan then served at the AWAS, among several Australian Muslim women in the Australian Army. She enlisted in 1943 in Goomeri, Queensland. It was her decision to help defeat German and Japanese tyranny, receiving a consent for an application for entering the army by her father, Harry Mahomed Howsan. In attestation paper, her religion was wnoted as ‘Church of England’. According to Australian Military Forces – Report (School: LHQ – AAOC School – Stores Wing) Hazel completed a four-week course titled ‘No.1 General Army Organisation and Ordnance Procedure (AWAS)’ with distinction in duties involving the knowledge of ordinance procedure. Her instructional ability was marked as fair, and her personal characteristics were described as ‘keen, capable and confident’ with general remarks, ‘worked hard to attain excellent results’. This was the statement of her Lieutenant Colonel, Chief Inspector. Another reference of her, by the Captain, also stated, Hazel has ‘good appearance and a pleasant manner’ with a ‘good team spirit’, ‘capable of taking responsibility’. Her unit was the ‘Australian Ordnance Vehicles’ and her active service included 1053 days. After the war, she was involved in the editorial of local newspapers. Hazel was also a secretary at the local Radio KQ station. She resigned in 1970 as a clerk.

From the book:

Dzavid Haveric, ‘A History of Muslims in the Australian Military from 1885 to 1945: Loyalty, Patriotism, Contribution’, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, London, 2024.