Frank John Partridge (1924–1964)
Frank John Partridge, 40, the youngest and last Victoria Cross winner of World War II died tonight after a motor accident.
He received head, chest and internal injuries when his car and a timber truck collided on Thora Road, near Bellingen, a short way from his home, late this afternoon.
He was admitted to Bellingen Hospital but died at 6.35 p.m.
He was alone in the car.
Partridge won his V.C. in the Japanese attack on Bougainville in 1945.
Armed with grenades, he stormed and wiped out a Japanese gunpost.
In the last few years, Partridge, a farmer, became quiz idol to thousands of television viewers throughout Australia. In two and a half years he won more than £12,000 on the national Pick-A-Box show compered by Bob Dyer. He was planning to return to the show in the next few months.
He is survived by his widow, Barbara, and their three-month-old son, Lachlann.
The national president of the R.S.L., Mr. A. J. Lee, said Australians would be shocked to hear of the tragic death of one of Australia's outstanding servicemen of the 1939-45 war.
"He was an honorary member of the R.S.L., a rare distinction conferred on V.C. winners and representatives of the Queen," Mr. Lee said.
"I feel I can speak for all members of the R.S.L. in extending deepest sympathy to Mrs. Partridge."
Original publication
Additional Resources and Scholarship
- Trove search
- World War II service record, B883, NX700426 (National Archives of Australia)
- application for assistance for his widow, A463, 1965/2159 (National Archives of Australia)
- is wounded three times while trying to take out a Japanese machine gun at Bougainville, New Guinea, after his patrol was ambushed, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW), 10 August 1945, p 6
- receives the Victoria Cross for his conspicuous gallantry, Cairns Post (Qld), 23 January 1946, p 1
- profile, News (Adelaide), 23 January 1946, p 1
- was a shy and retiring child, Telegraph (Brisbane), 23 January 1946, p 4
- is on leave at his parents' house, Sydney Morning Herald, 24 January 1946, p 5
- his surname, Part Ridge, has been given to a rise on which the last big action of the Bougainville Island campaign was fought, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 24 January 1946, p 2
- his bravery is praised by Lieut-General S. G. Savige, Argus (Melbourne), 24 January 1946, p 3
- profile, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW), 25 January 1946, p 4
- a dinner in his honour is to be held in Kempsey, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW) 5 February 1946, p 5
- a meeting is held in the Bowraville Council Chambers to decide how to honour Partridge; a public holiday will be proclaimed on a day immediately following his investiture, Wingham Chronicle (NSW), 5 February 1946, p 2
- a civic reception will be held on the public holiday, followed by a banquet, a march past of school children, and a dance and pyrotechnical display at night, Don Dorrigo Gazette (NSW) 8 February 1946, p 2
- cartoon depicting Partridge's heroic exploits, Argus (Melbourne), 9 February 1946, p 28
- photo, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 27 March 1946, p 3
- Partridge is a Catholic, Southern Cross (Adelaide), 29 March 1946, p 7
- is one of 160 members of the Australian Military Forces who will march with the Australian Services in the Victory March in London, Wingham Chronicle (NSW), 2 April 1946, p 2
- receives the Victoria Cross from the Duke of Gloucester at Government House, Sydney, Argus (Melbourne), 15 April 1946, p 3
- photo, Catholic Weekly (Sydney), 18 April 1946, p 5
- photo of Partridge with other VC winners in London, Newcastle Sun (NSW), 7 June 1946, p 5
- Partridge's effigy has been chosen by Madame Tussaud's waxworks as the typical digger, Daily Examiner (Grafton, NSW), 8 June 1946, p 1
- photo showing King George with Australian VC winners, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 1946, p 1
- photo of Partridge with film star Anne Crawford, Courier-Mail (Brisbane), 10 June 1946, p 5
- poem dedicated to Partridge, Australian Women's Weekly, 29 June 1946, p 24
- 25th November is to be declared a public holiday in the Nambucca Shire to celebrate Partridge's VC, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW), 19 November 1946, p 2
- a parade is held in Bowraville to honour Partridge, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW), 3 December 1946, p 4
- is guest of honour at the Anzac Day social in Kempsey, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW), 29 April 1947, p 2
- is to attend the Queen's Coronation as part of the Australian Army contingent, Macleay Argus (Kempsey, NSW), 11 February 1953, p 2
- photo, Sun (Sydney), 8 March 1953, p 1
- photo, News (Adelaide), 10 March 1953, p 2
- photo, Argus (Melbourne), 10 March 1953, p 5
- Partridge and three other VC winners arrive in England, West Australian, 7 May 1953, p 4
- the VC winners marched in the Coronation parade without rifles and bayonets, Age (Melbourne), 3 June 1953, p 6
- photo with other Pick-a-Box quiz champions, Barry Jones and George Black, Canberra Times, 4 August 1962, p 7
- Partridge has won 11,000 pds on Pick-a-Box; is to marry soon; profile, Australian Women's Weekly, 5 September 1962, p 2
- quiz champion Barry Jones has a slight lead against Partridge in their contest for 1000 pds prize money on Pick-a-Box, Canberra Times, 15 October 1962, p 16
- Jones leads Partridge 62-58, Canberra Times, 16 October 1962, p 17
- Jones leads Partridge 71-70, Canberra Times, 23 October 1962, p 13
- Jones beats Partridge by one point in the final round of Pick-a-Box, Canberra Times, 30 October 1962, p 14
- photo of Partridge and Jones with Pick-a-Box host, Bob Dyer, Canberra Times, 30 October 1962, p 14
- photo of the three men, Canberra Times, 10 November 1962, p 16
- Partridge will move into a new 'dream home' following his wedding, Australian Women's Weekly, 13 February 1963, p 2
- marries Barbara Dunlop, Australian Women's Weekly, 6 March 1963, p 19
- wedding photo, Australian Women's Weekly, 6 March 1963, p 3
- photo of the couple with a model of their dream home, Western Herald (Bourke, NSW), 24 May 1963, p 6
- photo of the couple with their baby son Lachlann, Australian Women's Weekly, 25 December 1963, p 17
- Partridge is to be buried with full military honours at Macksville, Canberra Times, 25 March 1964, p 10
- inquest, Canberra Times, 4 April 1964, p 3
- photos, Australian Women's Weekly, 8 April 1964, p 13
- probate, Canberra Times, 26 November 1964, p 3
- his widow is granted a war widow's pension, Canberra Times, 10 March 1965, p 9
- a Frank John Partridge memorial scholarship is to be awarded on the results of the School Certificate exam, Canberra Times, 16 February 1967, p 24
- Barbara Partridge is selling the couple's dream home to help finance their son's education, Australian Women's Weekly, 20 December 1967, p 5
- the house is put up for auction, Australian Women's Weekly, 4 March 1970, p 19
- Lachlann Partridge hears his father's voice for the first time from a rerun of Pick-a Box, Australian Women's Weekly, 14 July 1971, p 12
- interview with Lachlann, Australian Women's Weekly, 8 April 1981, p 38
Related Entries in NCB Sites
- Partridge, Frank John
- Dyer, Robert Neal (acquaintance)
Citation details
'Partridge, Frank John (1924–1964)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/partridge-frank-john-11346/text34804, accessed 5 December 2024.
Life Summary [details]
Birth
29 November,
1924
Grafton,
New South Wales,
Australia
Death
23 March,
1964
(aged 39)
Bellingen,
New South Wales,
Australia
Cause of Death
Cultural Heritage
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