Two weaving tools : Signalman L N Cameron, 8 Divisional Signals

Two tools used to punch wool through hessian to create the hooked rug at REL44330.001. One is made of brass and consists of three parts: a needle, shaft and collar. The needle point and eye are at the tip of a tube that guides the thread through a hollow hexagonal needle shaft. The needle is held in place by a metal fastening collar which is screwed around the needle shaft. The other tool is the same design, but the needle shaft and collar are steel, with a brass needle.

Leslie Neil Cameron was born on 23 January 1920 at Sydney, New South Wales. He enlisted at Paddington, on 31 March 1941 as a signalman with 2 Company, 8 Division Signals. He had previously undertaken three months training with the Royal Australian Artillery.

Cameron was listed as missing in Malaya in February 1942 and spent some time at Changi prison camp before being sent to Kobe, Japan, to work at the dockyards, being listed as a prisoner of war in Osaka from July 1943.

On 26 September 1945, he was recovered from the Japanese and embarked from Manilla for Sydney on 5 October, arriving on 13 October. On his return, Cameron spent time at Yaralla Repatriation Hospital at Concord, Sydney, where he worked on the rug at REL44330.002 as a form of post-war rehabilitation. Cameron was discharged on compassionate grounds at his own request on 7 December.