Cotton drill skirt : Private N S Eglinton, Australian Army Medical Women's Service

Places
Accession Number REL30718
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Cotton drill
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia
Date made 1943
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

'A' line khaki drab cotton drill skirt with front angle welt pockets. The skirt fastens on the left side by four hook and eyes with a buckle and fabric strap at the top. A matching buckle and strap is sewn onto the right side to adjust the fit. The skirt has been adjusted with white thread in the centre back below the waistband to improve the fit. The hem has been raised 10 cm and hand stitched with white thread.

History / Summary

Worn by SFX15101 Private Nancy Stewart Eglinton. Eglinton was born in Adelaide, South Australia in January 1918 and enlisted in the Voluntary Aid Detachment on 10 November 1941. In 1942 Eglinton, with the majority of VADs, was transferred to the newly formed Australian Army Medical Women's Service. During the war she served in Northern Queensland, and possibly in New Guinea towards the end of the war. She served with 128 Australian General Hospital (AGH), 2/6 AGH and when discharged on 26 April 1946 she was serving with 101 AGH, based in Northfield, Adelaide. At the end of war she met and later married S3509 Colin Malcolm McEachern, a telegraphist from the Royal Australian Navy who served as a coast watcher during the war. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal during his service in HMAS Parkes.