Embroidered pouch : Private C E Adamson, 5 Battalion, AIF

Place Europe: United Kingdom, England, Greater London, London
Accession Number REL29380
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Cotton sateen; Cotton
Maker Adamson, Charles Edward
Place made United Kingdom: England, Greater London, London
Date made c 1916-1919
Conflict Period 1910-1919
First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Square embroidered pouch formed from a single piece of white cotton fabric. The square centre has four triangular flaps which fold in to form the opening of the pouch. Two of the flaps are attached permanently from opposite sides. One of the remaining flaps has a small piece of pink and green ribbon attached, presumably for tying shut. Both sides of the pouch are embroidered in the same pattern. Light blue and white checked pattern cross stich forms the background and over this various squares/diamonds and eight-point stars are superimposed in the colours pink, purple, yellow, brown and light green.

History / Summary

Made by 3678 Private Charles Edward Adamson who served in 5 Battalion, AIF, during the First World War. Adamson was born in Victoria on 21 May, 1890 and he enlisted with the AIF on 20 July, 1915. He sailed for Egypt on the troopship 'Ceramic' shortly after enlisting. Adamson served in Egypt then in France, participating in the battle of the Somme. His diaries (held in the Private Records collection) detail his fighting experiences in both Egypt and France but the writing ends abruptly due to a war injury. Adamson was buried alive in the trenches and spent many months in a London hospital recuperating. It is assumed that the pieces of embroidery were produced by Adamson during this period of recuperation. He embarked for return to Australia on 20 March 1919.