Prisoner of War Model Italian Tank : given to Private A H Patrick, 9 Works Company, Australian Army

Model tank carved from hardwood. The tank has the general appearance of a Carro Armato M13/40 particularly in the general shape of the hull and in the suspension detail. The tank features a rotatable turret and appears to have originally been painted white.

This model tank is associated with the service of NX148826 Private Arthur Henry Patrick. This model tank was carved from a jarrah hardwood railway sleeper by an Italian prisoner of war, working on the railways in South Australia during the Second World War. The model was presented to Patrick by the prisoners as a sign of their regard for him. At the time, Patrick was stationed at 'The Plains No.1' internment camp six miles outside of Watson on the Nullabor in South Australia 515 miles (830 kilometres) west from Port Pirie, supervising 49 prisoners working on the Trans Australian Railway track there. He had enlisted with the Militia in July 1941 and initially served at the prisoner of war camp in Cowra. He was transferred to 3 POW Labour Detachment in March 1942 and served with them until September. It was probably during this period that he received the model. Patrick transferred to the AIF in March 1943 and was discharged from service in March 1946.