Pottery ashtray made by blinded Australian soldier, Norman Wilkinson

Norman Wilkinson was a 20 year old labourer when he enlisted with the 5th Australian Infantry Training Battalion on 6 March 1941. His service number was NX69213.
Norman served in the Middle East with 2/1st Battalion before attending 16th Australian Infantry Brigade Drivers and Maintenance Motor Transport School where he qualified as a Driver Mechanic. His unit was sent to New Guinea and while on the Kokoda Trail, he contracted scrub typhus.
While being treated, the hospital was bombed by the Japanese and he was thrown from his bed and seriously injured, being unconscious for 6 weeks. When he woke, he was both blind and deaf.
He spent time in the Lady Wakehurst Red Cross Home in Bondi and the Repatriation General Hospital Concord (113th Australian General Hospital). Whilst there, he was taught both sign language and braille, and learned to type on a typewriter with braille fitted to the keys. He later attended pottery classes at Sydney Technical College and set up a shop to sell his wares.

His story was told in a Repatriation Department book entitled 'Blinded but not beaten', a copy of which is in the library.

When purchased, this ashtray was described as a posy vase. It could be used for that purpose. However, in the video attached to this record, Norman is seen making identical items and they are described as ashtrays.

Another work of pottery created by blinded soldier, Bill Reid, who was also taught at the Repatriation General Hospital Concord is held in the collection.