Patriotic tablecloth : Mrs G S Scott

White crocheted and embroidered patriotic square table cloth. In the centre is a diamond shaped piece of white cotton, embroidered in the centre with a floral motif in white cotton thread. At two opposing corners are three furled flags also embroidered in white. At the other two opposing corners are three unfurled flags, representing the United Kingdom, France and Belgium. The fabric is edged with a row of drawn thread work and a filet crochet inner border.

Each side of the inner border carries three crossed flags representing the United Kingdom, France and Belgium with an image of a ribbon, 'tying' them together. Two branches of leaves, possibly representing laurel, in an 'L' shape, form the corners of the tablecloth. The wide outer crocheted border features a repeating pattern of the three flags. A final narrow crocheted edging has a repeating 'V' pattern.

This patriotic table cloth was made by Gertrude Sarah 'Gert' Scott, née Young. Mrs Scott was born in 1882, the eldest of six children of Robert and Anne Young (née Willats). As a young child, Mrs Scott was sent to live with her grandmother, Sarah Willats, who taught her to knit, crochet and embroider.

In 1908 she married Will Scott at Maldon, Victoria and they had three children. Her husband was employed in the gold mines, but was unhappy in this work and with three children to support, moved the family to Wallan East, where he worked for Victorian Railways as a ganger, maintaining a section of the main line in that area.

In 1915 Mrs Willats, who lived with the Scotts, died, and Mrs Scott had surgery. During her recuperation, she began work on the table cloth. She was known to be a very patriotic woman and two of her brothers, Percival and Sydney, had enlisted in the AIF.

1126 Driver Percival 'Percy' Young enlisted in the AIF on 20 August 1914. He served at Gallipoli, Egypt and the Western Front. He returned to Australia in early 1919. His younger brother, 1827 Private Sydney Claude Young enlisted in the AIF on 1 October 1914. He also served at Gallipoli, Egypt and on the Western Front, returning to Australia in 1919.