Italian flag : Private T S Mackie, 2/1st Pioneer Battalion

Italian flag made up of vertical panels of green (hoist) white and red fabric sewn together. Sewn into the white panel is the arms of the House of Savoy showing a blue and red shield with a white cross. Sewn to the hoist are three yellow cotton ties. Attached to the flag are a number of Italian Army and Navy buttons, badges and rank insignia. In places, some stitching, holes and marks still remain where other items have previously been attached. There are a number of markings on the flag. Written on the centre panel of the flag is 'GOD. - SPEED VICTORY DERNA LIBYA 7.2.41 T.S. MACKIE. NX45272 CESSNOCK EMBARKED SYDNEY 30.9.40 SS JOHANN-DE-WITT H.E.M.S. EMR-FAWZIZ ALEXADRIA-SOLLUM AUSTRALIA BROADMEADOW GRETA DUBBO PALESTINE JULIAS EGYPT ELAMERIA SOLLUM LIBYA TOBRUK BOMBA DERNA EL FAIDIA LIBYA CYRENE ACZUA-PONDA BENGASI'.

Italian flag collected by NX45272 Private Thomas Stenhouse Mackie during the Second World War. Mackie was born on 7 January 1907 in Kelty, United Kingdom. He enlisted on 20 June 1940 and served with 2/1 Australian Pioneer Battalion in North Africa. Mackie was discharged from Headquarters Guard Battalion on 2 May 1945. Some of the insignia attached to the flag has been tentatively identified as a badge from an Italian Army artillery unit, an Italian warrant officer's shoulder strap and an Italian Navy lieutenant's sleeve rank badge.