Upper interlocking support pole for a Bell tent

One of a pair of wooden support poles, this the upper pole with one end cut at an angle, which slides into the metal sleeve on lower pole (REL34417.002); this ensures there is minimal movement of the two halves once assembled. The other end of the pole is rounded for fitting into the rope donut at the apex of the tent. There is a small hole drilled into the pole at the upper end. The wood is Douglas Fir.

One half of a supporting pole for a standard pattern Bell tent, as adopted by the British Army from the late nineteenth century. This style of tent saw extensive use by Australian military forces both at home and abroad in both world wars. This example was purchased as surplus from the military by the Salvation Army in 1919 and used by their Melbourne Girls' Youth Group for camping trips into the Melbourne hinterland.