Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Daughter of Thomas H FULLER, Thumb Creek, New South Wales.

Ellen was born in Kempsey, NSW, in 1925 and grew up on a farm. She worked on the farm with her father and brothers after she left school.

Ellen is a veteran of the Second World War. She enlisted in the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) in March 1944 at the age of 18. After her recruit training, Ellen was promoted to the rank of aircraftwoman and trained as a teleprinter operator at No. 4 School of Technical Training in Adelaide. In September 1944, she was posted to Melbourne to the RAAF Headquarters Telecommunications Unit, which was located within a large church across the street from Flinders Street Railway Station. Ellen was still serving in Melbourne when the war ended and large crowds celebrated Victory in the Pacific.

Ellen was discharged from the WAAAF in March 1946. She says the best thing about her service was ‘the learning of everything and extending myself’. The next month, in April 1946, Ellen married James ‘Jim’ Partridge who served in the Australian Army from October 1941 until April 1946. Ellen and Jim went on to have 2 daughters. Sadly, Jim and one of their daughters have died.

When she was younger, Ellen played bowls and golf. She also enjoyed calligraphy, sewing, embroidery, crocheting, knitting and travelling. Ellen still likes to knit and is an avid reader. She also enjoys participating in the games at the aged care facility, including playing cards and puzzles.

Ellen credits her long life to having a wonderful husband and being treated like a lady all her life.