Cigarette Case - Wood, circa 1942

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Summary:: Wooden cigarette case made by an Italian POW interned in the internment Camp No. PWCH V29, near Albury, circa 1942. Over 1000 Italian POWs were interned in this camp. Most of them had been captured in North Africa and transported for internment in Australia in 1941. Some of these POWs were assigned to work as mechanics or labourers in the nearby Australian Military camp at Bandiana, close to Bonegilla. The POWs befriended the Australian soldiers who would allow them to take scraps of metal and wood to make objects like this.
Description:: The rectangular dark wood case is hollow, leaving space for the cigarettes; it has a sliding inlay panel which allows it to be filled. The front of the case has a wooden inlay in a stylized "rising sun" design in various coloured and polished woods; the sun, itself, is formed by the use of approximately 2/3rd. of penny, leaving a kangaroo and "Australia" intact. The reverse also has an in layed wooden panel of various woods in blonde colours.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Anonymous, 1996

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	8.05 cm (Height), 1.05 cm (Width), 10.05 cm (Length)

Tagged with:	internment camps, italian communities, italian immigration, prison camps, prisoners of war, wars conflicts, world war ii 1939-1945
Themes this item is part of:	Italian Historical Society CO.AS.IT. Collection, Migration Collection
Primary Classification:	RECREATION & TOURISM
Secondary Classification:	Substance Use - Tobacco
Tertiary Classification:	storage
Inscriptions:	AUSTRALIA
Place & Date Made:	Bandiana, Victoria, Australia, 1940