Women's shoes made by Second World War Italian internees
Date made: 1940-1941
Maker: unknown Italian internee
Description: Pair of adults leather shoes, painted white. Hand made by Italian internees during the Second World War. Owned by Anna May Beattie (known as Maisie), the mother of the donor. She had very small feet (size three) so these had previously been thought to have belonged to a child. However information received from the family in 2018 confirms they are for an adult. Maisie's brother was a Prisoner of War and he bought the shoes when he was released.
Anna May Beattie's maiden name was Moffitt and the family lived at Church Street, Douglas. Her brother who purchased the shoes would appear to be Gunner Robert Moffitt who served with the Manx Regiment, and who was captured on Crete. He arrived home in April 1945.
Materials: leather
Object name: shoes
Collection: Costume & Textiles Collection
ID Number: 2010-0289
Subject tags : #WW2INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS