| Place | Oceania: Australia, New South Wales, Sydney, Holsworthy |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM03887.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Uniform |
| Physical description | Cotton twill, White metal |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1916: Homefront |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | c 1917 -1918 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Coat worn by German internee W G Koch, Holsworthy Camp
Description
Unlined cream cotton twill single breasted jacket, with long sleeves, stand collar and a patch pocket over each hip. The jacket fastens down the front with four white metal buttons. A large brown cotton twill diamond is let into the back of the jacket. It bears white painted letters: 'Gott strafe England' (God punish England). A later inscription, in purple indelible pencil, on the upper right front reads: H A.I. F. Staff ? Military Court 19.2.18'.
History / Summary
Worn by German intenee, W G Koch, at Holsworthy Camp. Koch was court martialled after painting 'Gott Strafe England' on the back of the coat.
Worn by a German internee, Walter Georg Koch, at Holsworthy Camp in early 1918. When the war broke out, he was working as a planter in Ceylon (then a British colony, now Sri Lanka). He was transported to Australia for internment in 1916.
The coat is of a style that was issued to internees. Koch embellished the back with the message “Gott strafe England” an action for which he was court martialed on 19 March 1918 (despite the fact he was a civilian). His jacket was confiscated and used as evidence during the court martial. “Gott Strafe England”, meaning “God punish England” was a popular propaganda slogan in Germany during the war.
He was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment. At the end of the war, Koch embarked for Europe on board HMNZT Willochra on 27 May 1919, one of several ships repatriating internees. The ship arrived in Rotterdam on 18 July and the former internees, including Koch, disembarked the next day into the custody of the Dutch Army.