Betty Cameron
Encyclopedia
Corporal
Betty Cameron (born 20 November 1918) was an Australian World War II
servicewoman and WAAAF activist.
Born as Elizabeth Katherine Twynam-Perkins, she was educated at Fort Street Girls' High School, Sydney and obtained her Leaving Certificate. From 1938 to 1940 she was a lady cubmaster.
Betty's mother, also English, trained at Trinity College Dublin because at the time it was the only University that accepted women students. Capable of speaking seven languages she travelled to the U.S.
and later to Argentina
.
Betty's parents married in 1908 and had five children. Her husband served in World War I
in France
in the Australian Army Medical Corps. He was gassed in Ypres
and was totally and permanently incapacitated as a result.
(RAAF) in April 1941. Her other community work included being a member of the Mothers' Union of Australia and a voluntary driver at Concord Hospital.
In the WAAAF, Cameron was trained as a wireless telegraph operator. She then served in the Shipping Movement Branch of the RAAF before being transferred to Melbourne
. Early in 1942 she was stationed at Parkes to complete a navigation course (theory only) and was then posted to Fighter Section in Sydney. Here she worked underground in the tunnels made for the Eastern Suburbs Railway.
Promoted to corporal in May 1942, Cameron went to Melbourne
on an officers course and then on the operations course. After completion she was posted to Eastern Area, Point Piper in the Operations Room and Intelligence.
(RAAF) in April 1941. In July 1944 Leith Cameron returned to Australia. He was in Sydney
for a brief period before being posted to Darwin
and the South East Asia area. That same year Betty became pregnant with her first child and was discharged from the WAAAF on 20 November 1944. She and her husband would go on to have three children.
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
Betty Cameron (born 20 November 1918) was an Australian World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
servicewoman and WAAAF activist.
Born as Elizabeth Katherine Twynam-Perkins, she was educated at Fort Street Girls' High School, Sydney and obtained her Leaving Certificate. From 1938 to 1940 she was a lady cubmaster.
Parents
Betty's father, who was English, was a doctor in the Indian Army. Both his parents were with the British Government in India.Betty's mother, also English, trained at Trinity College Dublin because at the time it was the only University that accepted women students. Capable of speaking seven languages she travelled to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and later to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
Betty's parents married in 1908 and had five children. Her husband served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in the Australian Army Medical Corps. He was gassed in Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
and was totally and permanently incapacitated as a result.
World War II
Betty Cameron joined the Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) in April 1941. Her other community work included being a member of the Mothers' Union of Australia and a voluntary driver at Concord Hospital.
In the WAAAF, Cameron was trained as a wireless telegraph operator. She then served in the Shipping Movement Branch of the RAAF before being transferred to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Early in 1942 she was stationed at Parkes to complete a navigation course (theory only) and was then posted to Fighter Section in Sydney. Here she worked underground in the tunnels made for the Eastern Suburbs Railway.
Promoted to corporal in May 1942, Cameron went to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on an officers course and then on the operations course. After completion she was posted to Eastern Area, Point Piper in the Operations Room and Intelligence.
Marriage
Betty Twynam-Perkins and Leith Cameron married in July 1940. They both joined the Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
(RAAF) in April 1941. In July 1944 Leith Cameron returned to Australia. He was in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
for a brief period before being posted to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
and the South East Asia area. That same year Betty became pregnant with her first child and was discharged from the WAAAF on 20 November 1944. She and her husband would go on to have three children.
WAAAF
After the war Betty Cameron joined the WAAAF Wing which later became the WAAAF Branch of the RAAF Association. She has held various positions with the Branch including president, secretary and treasurer, and was the convenor of two national WAAAF reunions. For several years Cameron served on the RAAF Association State Committee and was Matron of Honour four times to the debutantes at the annual RAAF Ball as well as helping to train the debutantes and their partners. In 1978 she was made a life member of the RAAF Association.External links
- http://www.ww2roll.gov.au