| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/04641A |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Bakelite, Cotton, Felt, Plastic, Steel, Wool |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia: Queensland |
| Date made | 1943-1945 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Housewife : Sergeant N M Partridge, 2/11 Field Ambulance
Description
Plain weave khaki cotton housewife lined with cream cotton drill. One end is folded over and sewn to form an internal pocket; the free end is shaped and carries a pair of white cotton tapes to close the folded housewife, as well as a red and white woven label, 'RED CROSS SOCIETY [Red Cross symbol] Q'LAND DIVISION AUSTRALIA'. The long flap of the housewife (but not the pocket, is lined with maroon felt to which are attached an assortment of brown Bakelite, black and white plastic buttons, two needles and two safety pins. The pocket holds further loose buttons a card of 'Super mercerised hose mending cotton by Astor Products, a hank of black darning wool and a brown Bakelite thimble.
History / Summary
Born at Eidsvold, Queensland in 1907, QX215 Sergeant Norman Maitland Partridge enlisted in the Second AIF at Brisbane on 25 September 1939. He listed his previous occupations as 'General clerical - running repairs - unemployed - labourer - salesman - drive car'.
Partridge trained as a nursing orderly and left Australia for the United Kingdom with 2/3rd Field Ambulance on 17 May 1940. In Britain he transferred to 2/11th Field Ambulance at Tidworth. The unit left for North Africa in January 1941.
In June 1943 he was posted to 8th Special Hospital at Gaza. He left the Middle East to return to Australia at the beginning of 1943. He then served in hospitals in Brisbane, Atherton and South Australia. He was posted to 107 Australian General Hospital in Darwin between February and September 1945. Partridge was discharged on 6 November of that year. He died in 1956.