Object numberM2015/009:034
DescriptionAn engraved cigarette case, black metal coating engraved on both sides to reveal the grey metal layer underneath. One side has a ribbon floating around flower ornaments and reads 'All Good Wishes Sincere Thanks Hay 1941'. At the back a street scene of an European historical city. Artist's initials AW and inscription Hay 1941 possibly point to Alfred Wurmser, an internee at the Hay Camp. He has been recorded there as an electrical engineer and artist/draughtsman.
This Cigarette box is part of the Rev. Alcorn's collection which represents a record of those Jewish and non-Jewish internees who were on board the ship H. M. T. Dunera.
When war broke out, England responded to public panic over the so-called 'enemy within' by interning thousands of foreign nationals. Australia agreed to assist the 'mother country' in this process and in July 1940, the HMT Dunera set sail from Liverpool to Sydney, carrying 2,542 male 'enemy aliens'. Arriving in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the 'Dunera Boys' (as they came to be known) were first interned in Hay and Orange in NSW. Eventually they were brought to Tatura, Victoria. Although behind barbed wire, these camps operated as communities and incorporated canteens, hospitals, dental and recreational facilities, schools, music, theatre and other artistic activities.
The Rev. Alcorn ministered to those internees who declared that they were Protestants of a non Anglican denomination. These 151 internees (according to the lists) formed some 15% of the camp inmates.
This Cigarette box is part of the Rev. Alcorn's collection which represents a record of those Jewish and non-Jewish internees who were on board the ship H. M. T. Dunera.
When war broke out, England responded to public panic over the so-called 'enemy within' by interning thousands of foreign nationals. Australia agreed to assist the 'mother country' in this process and in July 1940, the HMT Dunera set sail from Liverpool to Sydney, carrying 2,542 male 'enemy aliens'. Arriving in Sydney on 6 September 1940, the 'Dunera Boys' (as they came to be known) were first interned in Hay and Orange in NSW. Eventually they were brought to Tatura, Victoria. Although behind barbed wire, these camps operated as communities and incorporated canteens, hospitals, dental and recreational facilities, schools, music, theatre and other artistic activities.
The Rev. Alcorn ministered to those internees who declared that they were Protestants of a non Anglican denomination. These 151 internees (according to the lists) formed some 15% of the camp inmates.
Production date 1941
SubjectDunera, internment camps
Object namecigarette tins
Materialmetal
Dimensions
- width: 154.00 mm
height: 110.00 mm
depth: 16.00 mm
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Garry Hogden
DocumentationDunera lives. Volume 1 : a visual history300007330