The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Wooden shield with carved detailing. Ornamental curls around the edges imitate curled parchment. On the left shoulder is 'AGGREGATE' and on the right one is 'SHIELD'. At the centre top is a circle within which is 'A GRADE'. In the centre of the shield is a wreath which surrounds crossed Union Jacks on staves. Between the crossed staves is '1944'. Below the wreath is 'WINNERS', then lower still 'AUSTRALIA' within an oval. A carved scroll 'EMPIRE / AQUATIC SPORTS' adjoins the underside of the circle at the centre top, then folds over at each end and drops down both sides of the wreath, finishing at both ends in a swallow tail. The name of each team member is carved diagonally across the falling sections of scroll, on small rebated panels. On the left side is 'J. REYNOLDS CAPT / L. BUXTON / T. KIDD / C. HARPER / W. LOWREY'. On the right side is 'R. NAPTHALI / H. FOWLER / L. WILLANS / N. ALFORD / D. McERLANE'. In the bottom left corner is 'HOHENFELS', and on the right one 'BAVARIA'. The reverse side bears two marks which probably relate to the use of the wood in a 'butter-box'. 'BR' within a square has been stamped in a red, and '8900' has been stencilled in black ink.
Associated with NX2920 Staff Sergeant Ernest Thomas Watson Kidd, 6 Australian Division Supply Column, AASC who was taken prisoner of war on Crete in 1941. He was interned in Stalag XIIIC Hammelburg and two of its Arbeitskommandos (working camps) from September 1941 till January 1944, and in Stalag 383 at Hohenfels, from January 1944 until April 1945. This shield was won by the Australian swimming team at the 'Empire Aquatic Sports Meet' held in Stalag 383 in July 1944. Kidd was a member of the team, who described themselves as the 'Human Hydroplanes'. The aquatic events were conducted in a large, open topped, inground, concrete lined, firefighting reservoir within the camp. The shield was manufactured from a Red Cross wooden 'butter-box' case. Bulk supplies of Red Cross butter were sent to prisoners of war, in the 'butter-box' cases, via Argentina. The shield is said to have been made by a British prisoner, A J Pickard of the 4th Hussars.
Informal group portrait of an Australian prisoner of war (POW) swimming team at Stalag 383 POW camp. The swimmers are posed with their winning shield, carved from a butter box, in front of the entran
Inverted triangular wooden plaque with rebated carved detail. The plaque has a bar at the top '19 / EMPIRE / 43'. Below this is 'AQUATIC' expanding diagonally to the left from a point beneath 'EMPIRE'
Inverted triangular wooden plaque with rebated carved detail. The plaque has a bar at the top '19 / EMPIRE / 43'. Below this is 'AQUATIC' expanding diagonally to the left from a point beneath 'EMPIRE'
Informal group portrait of an Australian prisoner of war (POW) swimming team at Stalag 383 POW camp. The swimmers are posed with their winning shield, carved from a butter box, in front of the entran
Small piece of wood with a carved wooden shield attached to one side. The sield has a raised edge and bears carved words within it 'Stalag 383 7 Gepruff'. Made by British prisoners of war held at St
Circle of oiled pine wood, though to have been cut from a biscuit or butter box, bearing a low relief carving of Staff Sergeant Lindon Laker's head in profile. The edge has been carved with a raised
Wooden box made and carved by Private Hans Walton. The hinged lid is secured by a pair of brass hinges and features the carved head of an Australian soldier and the colour patch of 2 Casualty Clearing
Carved wooden walking stick featuring a pattern of raised leaves and flowers on a twisting vine. The head is an irregularly shaped knob like a seed pod, with many small knotholes in it and several car
