Cased field lantern : Private P G Samson, 10 Field Ambulance, AIF

Folding metal field lantern, painted blue, contained within a grey green painted rectangular metal carrying case. The case, made from hot dipped tin plate, is fitted with a leather carrying strap, now broken. Both case and lantern are fitted with a small impressed metal plate detailing the maker and date of manufacture. An impressed metal plate attached to the top of the lantern states 'USE 1/2-CANDLES ONLY'. Each side panel of the lantern is fitted with two glass panels; while the top and bottom panels are identically domed and pierced with a series of ventilation holes. The lower panel also houses a candle holder and the upper is fitted with a carrying handle. The entire lantern folds so that all four sides and the top and bottom panels lie flat. A series of sliding brass wire locks hold the assembly together. There are deposits of soot, and candle grease and wax, coating the inner surfaces.

Cased field lantern made in Redfern, NSW in 1916, designed to be folded down for transport. Possibly used by Australian Casualty Clearing Stations and Field Ambulance units. Related to the service of 12408 Private Percy George Samson, a school teacher of Footscray, Victoria, who enlisted on 20 March 1916, aged 26. Private Samson was assigned to 10 Australian Field Ambulance and embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Runic from Melbourne on 20 June 1916. After training in England (where he was photographed; see AWM photograph P02831.001), he crossed the Channel on 24 November 1916 to join his unit in France. On 22 July 1917 Samson was admitted to 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station (2 ACCS) with a 'debility'. After recovery, he transferred to 2 ACCS on 20 November 1917. Before his return to Australia in July 1919, he was granted leave to attend the Roydon Day Training College from 15 January 1919 until this leave was cancelled in mid June to enable him to embark for Australia aboard the 'Prinz Ludwig'. Samson was discharged on 20 September 1919. His diaries are now held by the State Library of Victoria under reference MS 11838. His daughter later used this lantern on many camping trips at Wilson's Promontary and a friend recalls 'it hung in the ti-tree as our sole light.' Percy Samson died in 1983.