BORN in Grafton, and buried with full military honours in Macksville Cemetery, Frank Partridge VC received the Victoria Cross for outstanding gallantry in the storming of an enemy post in Ratsua, New Guinea, in 1945.
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The successful capture of the armed position was thanks to the brave actions and devotion to duty displayed by Private Partridge, which inspired his comrades to heroic action.
With three gunshot wounds, two in his left arm and one in his left thigh, and sheer disregard for his own safety, Private Partridge – despite appreciating the extreme gravity of the situation – rushed forward under a burst of enemy fire and retrieved a Bren gun from alongside a dead gunner, before diving and engaging in a fierce hand to hand fight, killing the only surviving enemy soldier with his knife.
Private Partridge then attacked another bunker, but weakness from loss of blood, compelled him to halt, when he was unable to continue.
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.
Frank Partridge VC Public School in Nambucca Heads was named in his honour, and to coincide with ANZAC Day 2012, Bill Shepherd of the Nambucca Heads RSL Sub Branch presented (Frank Partridge’s) replica medals to the school captains this week.
All students think the school is worthy of his name; a man who was such a prominent person who served his country.
