Housewife : Corporal J H Edmondson, VC, 2/17th Battalion

Brown leatherette housewife lined with cream flannelette which folds in to protect the contents. One end is folded in to form a pocket, which contains khaki darning wool and a Bakelite thimble. The other end carries two light brown ties made from cotton bias binding. The same binding edges the entire body of the housewife and the pocket opening. Three lengths of black cotton tape, attached across the housewife in front to the pocket opening, carry an assortment of metal and plastic buttons, including a single Australian Military Forces oxidised button. Two lengths of black elastic attached down the centre of the housewife hold lengths of khaki darning wool and a card of khaki cotton in place. An assortment of needles and safety pins are attached to the flannelette. The housewife is secured in a rolled position with tapes and a pair of black painted metal press studs.

NX15705 Corporal John Hurst Edmondson was born in Wagga Wagga, NSW on 8 October 1914. The only child of Joseph William and Maud Elizabeth Edmondson, John was educated at Hurlstone Agricultural High School. He was a farmer in the Liverpool area before his enlistment into the 2/17th Infantry Battalion at Paddington on 20 May 1940. Due to previous militia service with 4 Battalion (Australian Rifles), he was promptly appointed to the rank of corporal. On 20 October, the battalion sailed on HT 'Queen Mary' from Sydney, arriving in Palestine, via Fremantle and India, on 25 November.

Edmondson was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions in the 'Easter Battle', during the Tobruk siege by General Erwin Rommel's forces in 1941. He is buried in grave no. 3.J.8 in the Tobruk War Cemetery.

This non-regulation housewife, possibly made by his mother, was among Edmondson's personal effects that were returned to his parents after his death.