Frank John Partridge
Encyclopedia
Frank John Partridge VC
(29 November 192423 March 1964) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
, a farmer and a television quiz champion.
. He was educated at Tewinga Public School until he left at the age of 13 to work on the family's dairy and banana farm at Upper Newee Creek, near Macksville
.
by the Australian Army. He served as a private
in the 8th Battalion, a Militia
unit formed in Victoria
. In May 1944, the 8th Bn was posted to New Guinea
.
In June 1945, the 8th Battalion was transferred to the Bougainville campaign
, where it operated to contain Japanese
forces on the Bonis Peninsula. It was here that Partridge performed a deed for which he received the Victoria Cross
(VC), the highest award for gallantry that could be awarded to British Commonwealth
forces.
On 24 July, Partridge was a member of a patrol ordered to destroy an enemy post, known as Base 5, near Ratsua
. His section
came under heavy machine-gun fire and suffered severe casualties, including a Bren gunner who was killed. Partridge, although he too had been badly wounded, retrieved the Bren gun and handed it to another man to provide covering fire, while he rushed a bunker and silenced the machine-gun with a grenade. He killed the only living occupant and attacked another bunker, but weakness from loss of blood compelled him to halt. Later he re-joined the fight and remained in action while the platoon withdrew from an untenable situation.
Partridge was the last and youngest Australian to be awarded the VC in World War II. He and Corporal Reg Rattey
were the only Militia personnel to win it and they received the only VCs awarded to Australians for actions on Bougainville.
by the light of a kerosene lamp
. He had an extraordinarily retentive memory and in 1962–63 he appeared as a contestant on the television quiz show
, Pick a Box
, compered by Bob Dyer
, alongside contestants such as Barry Jones
. His laconic manner appealed strongly to viewers. Partridge was one of only three contestants to win all forty boxes and his prizes were valued at more than £
12,000 (in excess of A$
250,000 in present day terms).
He married Barbara Dunlop, a 31-year-old nurse from Turramurra
in Sydney
, in February 1963. The wedding received extensive media coverage. She remained in Sydney while Partridge built a new house at the farm. He drove to Sydney every weekend to see her.
Later in 1963, Partridge sought Country Party
pre-selection for the Australian House of Representatives
seat of Cowper
. His political views were widely regarded as extreme, and he was not selected. To supplement the income from his farm, Partridge also sold life insurance.
Partridge was killed in a car accident in 1964, and was buried with full military honours in Macksville Cemetery. His wife and three month old son survived him.
In 1989 a primary school at Nambucca Heads
was named the Frank Partridge VC Public School.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(29 November 192423 March 1964) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, a farmer and a television quiz champion.
Early life
Partridge was born at Grafton, New South WalesGrafton, New South Wales
The city of Grafton is the commercial hub of the Clarence River Valley. Established in 1851, Grafton features many historic buildings and tree-lined streets. Located approximately 630 kilometres north of Sydney and 340 km south of Brisbane, Grafton and the Clarence Valley can be reached...
. He was educated at Tewinga Public School until he left at the age of 13 to work on the family's dairy and banana farm at Upper Newee Creek, near Macksville
Macksville, New South Wales
Macksville is a small town on the Nambucca River in Nambucca Shire, New South Wales, Australia. It is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.-Town information:...
.
World War II
In December 1942, during World War II, Partridge was conscriptedConscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
by the Australian Army. He served as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
in the 8th Battalion, a Militia
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
unit formed in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. In May 1944, the 8th Bn was posted to New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
.
In June 1945, the 8th Battalion was transferred to the Bougainville campaign
Bougainville campaign (1944-45)
The Bougainville campaign was fought by the Allies in the South Pacific during World War II to regain control of the island of Bougainville from the Japanese forces who had occupied it in 1942. During their occupation the Japanese constructed naval aircraft bases in the north, east, and south of...
, where it operated to contain Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
forces on the Bonis Peninsula. It was here that Partridge performed a deed for which he received the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
(VC), the highest award for gallantry that could be awarded to British Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces.
On 24 July, Partridge was a member of a patrol ordered to destroy an enemy post, known as Base 5, near Ratsua
Battle of Ratsua
The Battle of Ratsua occurred during the Second World War and involved Australian and Japanese forces. Part of the wider Bougainville Campaign of the Pacific theatre, the battle took place in the northern sector of Bougainville between June and August 1945...
. His section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
came under heavy machine-gun fire and suffered severe casualties, including a Bren gunner who was killed. Partridge, although he too had been badly wounded, retrieved the Bren gun and handed it to another man to provide covering fire, while he rushed a bunker and silenced the machine-gun with a grenade. He killed the only living occupant and attacked another bunker, but weakness from loss of blood compelled him to halt. Later he re-joined the fight and remained in action while the platoon withdrew from an untenable situation.
Partridge was the last and youngest Australian to be awarded the VC in World War II. He and Corporal Reg Rattey
Reginald Roy Rattey
Reginald Roy Rattey VC was an Member of the 25th Australian Infantry Battalion and Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" that can be awarded to members of the British or Commonwealth armed forces.-Early Life:Reginald Roy Rattey, born...
were the only Militia personnel to win it and they received the only VCs awarded to Australians for actions on Bougainville.
Later life
Discharged from the army in October 1946, Partridge returned to the family farm. He lived with his father in a dirt-floored farmhouse, and in his spare time devoted himself to self-education, reading Encyclopædia BritannicaEncyclopædia Britannica
The Encyclopædia Britannica , published by Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., is a general knowledge English-language encyclopaedia that is available in print, as a DVD, and on the Internet. It is written and continuously updated by about 100 full-time editors and more than 4,000 expert...
by the light of a kerosene lamp
Kerosene lamp
The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. This article refers to kerosene lamps that have a wick and a tall glass chimney. Kerosene lanterns that have a wick and a glass globe are related to kerosene lamps and are included here as well...
. He had an extraordinarily retentive memory and in 1962–63 he appeared as a contestant on the television quiz show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
, Pick a Box
Pick a Box
Pick a Box was one of first game shows to be broadcast on Australian television. Hosted by the husband and wife team Bob and Dolly Dyer, the program aired from 1957 to 1971.- History :...
, compered by Bob Dyer
Bob Dyer
Robert "Bob" Dies OBE , who took the stage name of Bob Dyer, was an American-born vaudeville entertainer, radio personality, and radio and television quiz show host who made his name in Australia. Dyer is best known for the long-running radio and then television quiz show, Pick a Box...
, alongside contestants such as Barry Jones
Barry Jones (Australian politician)
Barry Owen Jones AO, FAA, FASSA, FAHA, FTSE, FACE is a writer, lawyer, social activist, quiz champion and former politician. He campaigned against the death penalty throughout the 1960s, particularly against the execution of Ronald Ryan, and remains against capital punishment...
. His laconic manner appealed strongly to viewers. Partridge was one of only three contestants to win all forty boxes and his prizes were valued at more than £
Australian pound
The pound was the currency of Australia from 1910 until 13 February 1966, when it was replaced by the Australian dollar. It was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence.- Earlier Australian currencies :...
12,000 (in excess of A$
Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
250,000 in present day terms).
He married Barbara Dunlop, a 31-year-old nurse from Turramurra
Turramurra, New South Wales
Turramurra is a suburb on the Upper North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Turramurra is located north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Ku-ring-gai Council...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, in February 1963. The wedding received extensive media coverage. She remained in Sydney while Partridge built a new house at the farm. He drove to Sydney every weekend to see her.
Later in 1963, Partridge sought Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
pre-selection for the Australian House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
seat of Cowper
Division of Cowper
The Division of Cowper is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election and is named for Charles Cowper, an early Premier of New South Wales...
. His political views were widely regarded as extreme, and he was not selected. To supplement the income from his farm, Partridge also sold life insurance.
Partridge was killed in a car accident in 1964, and was buried with full military honours in Macksville Cemetery. His wife and three month old son survived him.
In 1989 a primary school at Nambucca Heads
Nambucca Heads, New South Wales
Nambucca Heads is a town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia in Nambucca Shire. It is a holiday and retirement centre located on a ridge north of the estuary of the Nambucca River near the Pacific Highway, which now bypasses it. Its 2006 population was 6,137, including 445 ...
was named the Frank Partridge VC Public School.
External links
- "Partridge, Frank John (1924 - 1964)" (Australian Dictionary of BiographyAustralian Dictionary of BiographyThe Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
)