Jacket : Miss P A Smith, Australian Red Cross Society

Places
Accession Number REL33600.001
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Cotton 'Aertex', Enamelled bronze, Oxidised brass
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia
Date made c 1939-1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Lined khaki cotton Aertex jacket with two breast and two hip pockets, each fastened with an oxidised brass Red Cross button. The jacket fastens down the from with four similar Red Cross buttons, and the shoulder straps with smaller versions of the button.The self fabric belt is 42mm wide, with a metal fastener on the front. There is a single vent at the centre lower back. Each lapel bears an Australian Red Cross bronze and enamelled badge. A cloth red cross sewn onto the left upper sleeve. 'P A Smith' is marked in ink inside the upper centre back.

History / Summary

This uniform was worn by Miss Phyllis Agnes Smith who joined the Australian Red Cross Society in Queensland in May 1939. She transferred to the Nundah branch, in Brisbane in 1942. In 2000 she joined the Red Cross headquarters in Brisbane and was still a member in 2005. From 1939 until 1949, Miss Smith served at Red Cross headquarters and volunteered one day a week at the military hospitals at Greenslopes, Rosemount and Holland Park in Brisbane. She was subsequently awarded a Red Cross Certificate of Service for her contribution during the Second World War. A key area of the Australian Red Cross was the support work carried out by its members in hospitals, rehabilitation and convalescent units, assisting servicemen and women and their dependents. During the war the Red Cross secured the largest membership of any of wartime philanthropic organisations with nearly half a million Australians, mostly women and children, becoming members.