Figure 1.--The RAAF School in 1965 had the uniforms seen here. The boys wore monogramed white shirts and shorts and white kneesocks. The girls wore white dresses. I think the boy in the image here has a monogram on his shirt, but perhaps it is just pens in his pocket.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as part of Australia's defense policy maintained bases in several Commonwealth countries, primarily in Southeast Asia. Ausrtralia was a signatory of the South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO). The RAAF initially had a limited commitment at Butterworth Field. There were only a small number of dependants. When more RAAF personnel were assigned to the base, an Interim School was established in a vacant home (August 1958). The school served children from infants to secondary level. The secondary students worked on correspondence courses. The staff of female teachers was recruited from wives of servicemen - mostly RAAF but some Army wives as well. The RAAF School at Butterwirth in 1965 had the uniforms seen here (figure 1). The boys wore monogramed white shirts which because of the heat were worn with open collars. They had matching white shorts and white kneesocks. The girls wore white dresses.

Royal Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as part of Australia's defense policy maintained bases in several Commonwealth countries, primarily in Southeast Asia. Ausrtralia was a signatory of the South East Asian Treaty Organisation (SEATO). Americans viewing Australia's defense policy need the realize that the Far East to America is the near North to Australia. As part of its defense commitments, the RAAF maintained a base at Butterworth in Province Wellesley, Penang, Malaysia. Both the RAAF and the British Royal Air Force (RAF) maintained squadrons of jet fighters, bombers, and helicopters at Butterworth. Both RAAF personnel and Australian Army personnel were posted at the base for duty tours ranging from 2-3 years. Because of the length of the tours, many of the servicemen were allowed to bring their families. The families lived both on the base and in homes rented on the mainland at Butterworth or on Penang Island. This required a school to be established and the RAAF School bregan oprtating in the mid-1950s.

Australian Draft Debate

Military sconscription and defense policy has been an intensely controversial issue in Australia. Britain in World War I involved the Dominions with out really asking the dominion governments. Still their was considerable support for Britain and many Australians volunteered. There was, however, considerable opposition to conscription involving service abroad. The Australian Labour Party in particular was opposed to conscription, reflecting its socialist underpinings with string pacifist elements. The situation was somewhat different in World War II because Australia itself was directly threatened. When the Japanese launched World war II in the Pacific at Pearl Harbor, the bulk of the Australian Army was fighting Rommel in North Africa. Australia was exposed to Japanese invassion after the fall of the Philippines and the British bastion of Singapore where other Australian forces were stationed. Largenumber of Australian POWs died in Japanese slave labor camps building the Japanese Army Thiland-Burma railway. The Japanese advance on Australia was largely stopped by American carriers in the Battle of the Coral Sea. Australia finally passed a conscription law permitting overseas service. As Americans were dieing in a Pacific war far away from home, Australia's commotment to the war seemed week, especially as Americans were fighting to defend Australia.

Chronology

The RAAF initially had a limited commitment at Butterworth Field. There were only a small number of dependants. The younger children attended the the RAF Primary School at Butterworth or the British Army Children's School (BACS) at Penang. Secondary pupils attended either the British Secondary School at Cameron Highlands or at Singapore. The Australian Army was moved to Malacca and the British Army and RAF reducedtheir personnel at Butterworth. When the RAAF incrased deployments at Butterworth, the BACS filled up and it became clear that a RAAF School was needed at Butterworth. Wives of servicemen who were ex-school teachers initially worked to provide schooling on a temporary basis. An Interim School was established in a vacant home (August 1958). The school served children from infants to secondary level. The secondary students worked on correspondence courses. The first Principal was Mrs. Dawson, an ex-graduate school teacher and wife of the then Civilian Financial Advisor. The staff of female teachers was recruited from wives of servicemen - mostly RAAF but some Army wives as well. The school quickly had 150 children (September 1958).

School Uniform

The RAAF School at Butterwirth in 1965 had the uniforms seen here (figure 1). The boys wore monogramed white shirts which because of the heat were worn with open collars. Many of the boys wear white shirts without the monograms, but they all wear collared shirts. I think the boy in the image here has a monogram on his shirt, but perhaps it is just pens in his pocket. They had matching white shorts and white kneesocks. The girls wore white dresses. This may have been the secondary school uniform. We note other photographs where the younger boys were wearing dar colored shorts with ankle socks.

Created: 2:06 AM 7/2/2004
Last updated: 2:06 AM 7/2/2004