| Place | Africa: North Africa, Libya |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/17373 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Flag |
| Physical description | Cotton, Ink |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Italy |
| Date made | c 1939-1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Italian flag : Corporal F W Clear, 2/7 Battalion
Description
Italian flag made from three vertical red, white and green sections, with the centre (white) section charged with a printed representation of the coat of arms of the House of Savoy. Written in ink across the coat of arms are the words: 'TAKEN AT GIOVANNI BERTA, LIBYA, 3/2/41/ To Dad & Mum Ron Claude Cliff Ken Eric Margaret Norma from Frank'.
History / Summary
Flag associated with the service of VX7167 Corporal Francis (Frank) William Clear, 2/7 Battalion. Clear, born 13 July 1917, of Walbundrie, NSW enlisted at Wangaratta on 29 November 1939 and served with 2/7 Battalion in the Middle East, Libya and Greece, where he was captured by the Germans. He spent the next four years in POW camps before being liberated from Stalag 383 at Hohenfels, near Regensburg, Bavaria by advancing American forces. Corporal Clear returned to Australia via Paris soon after and was discharged on 18 January 1946. This Italian war flag was removed from its flagpole by Corporal Clear at Giovanni Berta, a small outpost, after it had been captured by members of the 2/7th Battalion, during the first attack on the Italian Army on 3 February 1941. Clear posted it home to his mother.