World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, he served as a Private in the 8th Battalion, Australian Army. On July 24, 1945, Private Partridge was a member of a patrol ordered to destroy an enemy post near Ratsua, New Guinea. When his section came under heavy machine-gun fire, suffering casualties and himself being wounded, Private Partridge retrieved the Bren gun and handed it to another man to provide covering fire. He rushed a Japanese bunker, silenced the machine-gun with a grenade and killed the occupants. He then attacked another bunker, but weakness from loss of blood compelled him to halt. Later he re-joined the fight and remained in action while his platoon withdrew from an untenable situation. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was awarded the Victoria Cross on January 22, 1946 and was the last and youngest Australian to be vested in World War II. After the war he worked on his family's farm and appeared as a champion contestant on the television quiz show, 'Pick-a-Box' (1962-63). He was killed in a car accident at age 39 in New South Wales, Australia.
World War II Victoria Cross Recipient. Born in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia, he served as a Private in the 8th Battalion, Australian Army. On July 24, 1945, Private Partridge was a member of a patrol ordered to destroy an enemy post near Ratsua, New Guinea. When his section came under heavy machine-gun fire, suffering casualties and himself being wounded, Private Partridge retrieved the Bren gun and handed it to another man to provide covering fire. He rushed a Japanese bunker, silenced the machine-gun with a grenade and killed the occupants. He then attacked another bunker, but weakness from loss of blood compelled him to halt. Later he re-joined the fight and remained in action while his platoon withdrew from an untenable situation. For gallantry in the face of the enemy, he was awarded the Victoria Cross on January 22, 1946 and was the last and youngest Australian to be vested in World War II. After the war he worked on his family's farm and appeared as a champion contestant on the television quiz show, 'Pick-a-Box' (1962-63). He was killed in a car accident at age 39 in New South Wales, Australia.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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