The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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.
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.
Unbleached calico housewife with a rectangular pocket at one end, three open-ended storage compartments and a triangular end with a pair of cotton tape ties to secure the housewife and its contents in
Knitted khaki woollen balaclava. Similar in style to the ‘balaclava helmet’ pattern, this kept the head and neck warm, leaving a square opening for the face and slits for the ears. There is a woollen
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 ot
Light brown checked cotton fabric housewife, lined throughout with multi-coloured striped cotton flannelette (possibly pyjama fabric). Each end is folded in and sewn to form a pocket. One pocket carri
Olive green cotton housewife (sewing kit) made from herringbone weave fabric, with an internal insert made from plain twill weave. The ends of the housewife are folded over to form pockets. One pocket
Brown leather housewife roll without contents, secured by a pair of cotton tapes. Each end is folded in and stitched to form a pocket. Two additional leather strips are sewn across the centre to secur
