Primus Biscuit Company tin with false bottom : Sergeant A E Field, 2/6 Field Company

Rectangular biscuit tin of folded, soldered construction with separate lid. The lid is bent and two sides are split for a third of their length. The exterior of the tin is suffering from surface corrosion. A length of tin, mildly corroded, with support legs has been inserted into the tin, allowing a false bottom to be created. There are decorated printed paper labels affixed to all four sides, but heat and damp damage have reduced much of them, leaving the company title as the only legible words. However, the paper label attached to the base, although heavily stained and spotted, is legible, and advertises the company's products in Dutch, English and Javanese. Titled 'BISKOEIT "PRIMUS" JANG PALANG BAIK', the list states the following: 'Jang palang terpoedji adalah matjam-matjam seperti dibawah ini: Amandel, Boterkoek, Cream Sprits, Krentenkoekjes, Boter Janhagel, Kaneel Beschultjes, Speculaas, Sultana, Citroen Sprits, Allerhande, Zannebloem, Kransies, Waaier, Ysjes, Combination, Mocca Cream, Zaansche Sprits, Zandkoekjes, Vruchten Cake.'

Javanese 'Primus' biscuit tin used to store a collection of diaries kept by NX25417 Sergeant Albert Edward Field while serving with 2/6 Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers. He was born in Checkendon, England in 1897 and named Albert Edward Richardson. At the age of 16 he enlisted in the British Army under his step-father's surname, Mecham, and served as a stretcher bearer during the First World War. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal. After the war he immigrated to Australia and was living in Queanbeyan, NSW, when he enlisted for service in the Second World War on 7 June 1940 at Paddington, NSW. He enlisted under his mother's maiden name, Field, and changed his year of birth to 1901 to lower his age. He served in the Middle East from November 1940 to February 1942. In February and March 1942, his unit was part of the force fighting the Japanese in Java. Field and many of his comrades were captured there in April and imprisoned for the remainder of the war. He survived the war and was discharged on 4 January 1946. Field concealed the diaries he kept while a prisoner of war in this biscuit tin, which he fitted with a false bottom. For details of his diaries see 3DRL/2251. After the war Field worked for the Australian War Memorial and contributed to the writing of the Second World War Official Histories.