The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Dark blue wool Voluntary Aid Detachments winter outdoor uniform jacket. The jacket is fully lined with blue cotton and has three patch pockets, two below the waist with buttoned flaps, and one small left breast pocket with a woven Red Cross badge. The jacket is fitted at the waist, and flares over the hips. It has a fold down collar and fastens at the front by two brass Australian Military Force buttons and a concealed hook and eye at the waist. A self fabric belt is secured around the waist with two belt loops and fastened by a metal slide buckle. The shoulder straps are held in place by small AMF buttons and have silver 'Australia' titles at the base. The colour patch of 2/6 Australian General Hospital is sewn to the upper arm of both sleeves. Two blue service chevrons edged in green are stitched to the lower right sleeve. Handwritten onto the small embroidered maker's label inside the right of the jacket is '78 G Crawford'. The inside of the jacket also has a slit pocket on each side.
Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawford who was born in Benalla, Victoria in October 1908. During the 1930s she worked as a mothercraft nurse and in May 1939, aged 31, joined the Voluntary Aid Detachments. In February 1941 she volunteered for overseas service and formally enlisted in the Australian Military Forces on 21 April with the service number V13447. On 17 October she was discharged and joined the Australian Imperial Force and was assigned the new number VFX64863. She served initially at 115 Australian General Hospital at Heidelberg and on 1 November sailed for the Middle East from Sydney aboard the Queen Mary. From November 1941 to March 1942 Gladys served as a nursing orderly with 1 AGH in Palestine, transferring to 6 AGH for the remainder of her overseas service. The VAD returned home to Australia early in 1943 and in March that year the women became members of the newly formed Australian Army Medical Women's Service. From her enlistment in the AAMWS on 22 March 1943 Gladys underwent training at Darley, Victoria before her posting to 2/6 AGH in Atherton, Queensland. She remained there for over a year, transferring to 116 AGH in Cairns on 23 October 1944. In January the following year she moved to Redbank to serve with 128 AGH, moving in September to her last unit, 102 AGH. She remained here until her discharge on 24 April 1946. After the war Gladys returned to mothercraft nursing, gaining her qualifications in nursing and kindergarten care in the late 1940s. Gladys also became active within the Returned and Services League, serving at one time in the late 1960s and early 1970s as president of the Returned and Servicewomen's sub-branch of Victoria. She died on 1 December 2000.
Australia Service Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawford who was born in Benalla, Victoria in October 1908. During the 1930s she w
British War Medal 1939-45. Impressed around the edge with recipient's details. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawford who was born in Benalla, Victoria in October 1908. During the 1930s
Stylised wooden kangaroo carved from a single branch of two-toned wood. The base of the kangaroo has been kept rough with the bark attached but the body of the animal has been sanded smooth. Gladys
Chrome plated cigarette rolling case. The case has a hinge at the back and a small notch on the front to lift the lid. The top of the lid has a decorative design and an open rectangular section for th
Thin clothing brush with green plastic handle and one row of black nylon bristles. The handle has the maker's name 'HALEX' in the centre and the crudely scratched name 'G L CRAWFORD'. Associated wit
Horizontally aligned rectangular colour patch forAustralian Army Service Corps, 6 Australian Division, divided dark blue over white with a grey border. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Cra
Papers of VFX64863 Gladys Lila Crawford who served with the Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD) in the Middle East during the Second World War. The collection comprises correspondence with family member
Defence Medal. Impressed around edge with recipient's details. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawford who was born in Benalla, Victoria in October 1908. During the 1930s she worked as a
Two first aid field dressings in a sealed cotton packet. The front of the packet is printed with the contents and instructions for use within a black border. At the bottom are the maker's details, 'Jo
Rectangular mirror with bevelled edge and a chromed metal frame. The back of the mirror is lined with orange, yellow and white patterned paper and has a curved metal stand attached to a hinge. Assoc
Khaki fur felt hat with narrow brim and brown grosgrain ribbon band. The hat also has a grosgrain sweatband with a maker's label sewn to it. This is marked in ink with the name and number 'G.L. CRAWFO
Blue cesarine indoor uniform dress with short sleeves. The shirt-style dress is fastened at the front by eight VAD buttons with a self fabric belt around the waist. A white detachable collar is stitch
Faded black canvas kit bag with rounded bottom. The opening of the bag has 12 brass rings around the edge for threading a drawstring and a flap for covering the contents when the bag is closed. The si
Brown rectangular leather satchel possibly used to store and carry documents. The case has a fold down flap with is fastened with two brass press studs on either side. Gladys Lila Crawford was born
Electro-plated nickel silver napkin ring with two horizontal parallel decorative grooves. On the front is an enamelled flag and a blue scroll with the words 'M.V. MANUNDA'. The back is stamped with th
Cream coloured plastic mantle or desk clock with a small round face with arabic numerals set into a curved frame. The back of the clock has exposed brass mecahnisms for winding and setting the time. T
Dark blue woollen tie to wear with winter uniform, with maker's label on reverse. This reads 'Apex Cravat/ THE MYER STORE FOR MEN. MELBOURNE & ADELAIDE'. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila C
No. 2A Brownie camera made in the United States of America by Eastman Kodak Company, which is often referred to as a 'box brownie'. The outer case consists of black coloured fabric over a metal body,
Three members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) prepare meals in a hospital kitchen. From left to right: V13447 (later VFX64863) Private (Pte) Gladys L Crawford, NF392188 Pte Edna Perry and V1208
A panorama group portrait of a large contingent of Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), from Southern Command assembled outside what is possibly Stonnington, a convalescent home for recovering sick and wou
Pair of curved brass shoulder titles with the voided initials 'VAD' surmounted by the numeral '3'. Two lugs are soldered to the reverse for fastening. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Craw
Pair of grey horizontally aligned rectangular colour patches for Voluntary Aid Detachment, AIF (Middle East), with a horizontally aligned central red stripe. Associated with the service of Gladys Li
Pair of colour patches for 2/4 Australian General Hospital featuring a brown diamond on grey background with a blue horizontally aligned rectangle in the centre. Associated with the service of Glady
Pair of colour patches for 2/6 Australian General Hospital featuring a brown diamond on grey background with a yellow horizontally aligned rectangle in the centre. Associated with the service of Gla
Pair of colour patches for 2/11 Australian General Hospital featuring a brown diamond on grey background with a red diagonally aligned rectangle in the centre. Associated with the service of Gladys
Pair of colour patches for the Australian Army Medical Corps, 1 Australian Medical Corps featuring a brown triangle on a grey background. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawford who was
Pair of colour patches for 2/12 Australian General Hospital featuring a brown diamond on grey background with a grey diagonally aligned rectangle in the centre. Associated with the service of Gladys
Pair of aluminuim identity discs on cotton tape. One disc is octagonal and the other circular. Both are impressed 'CRAWFORD G L VFX 64863 CE' on the front and 'A2' on the back. Associated with the s
Pair of miniature colour patches for 2/6 Australian General Hospital featuring a brown diamond on grey background with a yellow horizontally aligned rectangle in the centre. Associated with the serv
Pair of curved shoulder titles with the voided word 'AUSTRALIA' surmounted by the initials 'VAD'. Two lugs are soldered to the reverse for fastening. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawf
White cotton armband with a red felt Geneva cross sewn in the centre. The band is curved in the middle and tapers out at either end to form straps. The band is fastened with a two-pronged metal buckle
White linen arm band with red felt Geneva cross stitched in the centre. To the right of the cross is a black circular stamp which reads 'ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE' and on the reverse is the name 'G.L. CRAW
Red cross patch to be worn on the breast pocket of a khaki winter service dress jacket. The patch is made up of a square piece of khaki wool woven in the centre in cotton with a red Geneva cross outli
Bronze tri-service badge with combined anchor, rising sun and wings surmounted by a king's crown. Underneath is a boomerang with the words 'RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE'. Associated with the service
White cardboard place card made of a folded piece of cardboard with a circular section at the top. This section is printed with the emblem of the Royal Automobile Club of Australia and the main body i
Silver rising sun badge with brooch fastening on the back worn by female medical staff on their neck ties. The reverse has been crudely scratched with the name 'CRAWFORD' and stamped '935'. Gladys L
Sweetheart souvenir of the Rising Sun badge. An imprint of the badge has been painted gold against an aqua blue background. The badge has then been covered with clear resin. Associated with the serv
Chrome plated steel safety razor with a curved double sided head. The handle unscrews from the head to allow the blade to be replaced. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila Crawford who was bor
Set of 53 playing cards with a red decorative back. The pack consists of the four suites and a joker. Also included in the pack are three cards, one advertising the cards and stating that it can be us
Enamelled brooch badge consisting of a circular pendant suspended from a small rectangular bar. The bar is enamelled in blue around the letters 'V.A.D.'. On the back is a small pin fastener. The penda
Bronze VAD hat badge with lug fastening on the reverse. The badge is circular surmounted by a King's Crown. The centre of the badge has a Maltese cross surrounded by the words 'VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMEN
Wooden trunk with hinged lid. The outside of the trunk is covered with a dark leatherette and reinforced around the edges and on the corners with metal bands and caps. Wooden battens have also been na
Chrome plated hexagonal wrist watch with green nylon strap. The face of the watch has luminescent numbers and a smaller dial at the bottom for recording the seconds. The face is also marked with the m
Dark blue wool Voluntary Aid Detachments winter outdoor uniform skirt with an inverted centre pleat at the front and back. The skirt fastens on the right hip by five hooks and eyes along the hip and a
Dark blue fur felt hat with narrow brim and blue grosgrain ribbon band. The hat also has a grosgrain sweatband and an elastic chin strap to tuck under the hair. A woven name tape reading 'Gladys Crawf
Blue cesarine indoor uniform dress with short sleeves. The shirt-style dress is fastened at the front by eight VAD buttons with a self fabric belt around the waist. A white detachable collar is stitch
Dark blue woollen tie to wear with winter uniform, with maker's label on reverse. This reads 'Apex Cravat/ THE MYER STORE FOR MEN. MELBOURNE & ADELAIDE'. Associated with the service of Gladys Lila C
Cream coloured plastic mantle or desk clock with a small round face with arabic numerals set into a curved frame. The back of the clock has exposed brass mecahnisms for winding and setting the time. T
Bronze VAD hat badge with lug fastening on the reverse. The badge is circular surmounted by a King's Crown. The centre of the badge has a Maltese cross surrounded by the words 'VOLUNTARY AID DETACHMEN