Knitting bag in the shape of an army shirt : Mrs H M Blyth

Handmade knitting bag in the shape of a soldier's shirt. The bag is made from khaki drill cotton fabric with a placket front opening and mother of pearl buttons secured to the collar points. The sleeves have pointed cuffs. Both the cuffs and collar are made from the same fabric, but with the reverse side of the fabric showing. A 2 cm wide handle is attached to the bag at the shoulders. On the front is attached a cloth cigarette card of King George V in uniform. It is attached by herringbone stitch in red thread. The word 'Knitting' is embroidered in cursive script diagonally across the left side of the bag in the same thread.

This knitting bag was made and used by Henrietta May Winter during the First World War. Miss Winter knitted socks for her brother, 6839 Corporal Leonard George Winter during his service with the AIF.

Miss Winter was born in Victoria in 1884. In 1917 she married Ernest Francis Blyth and died in new South Wales in 1931.

Born in Geelong, Victoria, in 1894, Leonard George Winter was a motor engineer on enlistment with the Australian Army Service Corps, 6th Reinforcements, on 22 February 1915. He had previously served with the Australian Garrison Artillery, but had been medically discharged in 1913 due to asthma. Winter transferred to 23rd Depot Unit of Supply (23 DUS) and was promoted to corporal in April 1916. He embarked for France on 16 June 1916 and disembarked in Marseilles later that month. Reported as being wounded by antiaircraft fire, he was admitted to hospital on 1 October 1917 with wounds to his right leg. He rejoined 23 DUS at Boulogne on 22 October. In May 1918, Winter was admitted to hospital and later that month was invalided to England suffering melancholia. In June he was admitted to Lord Derby War Hospital, Warrington, for observation. Winter embarked for Australia on 18 January 1919, arriving home in March. He was discharged on 2 May 1919.