Tin can from internment camp
Date made: mid 20th century
Description: An opened empty tin can of 'Estratto di Pomidoro' (tomato purée). Red printed tin (no paper wrapper), with black and gold Italian lettering. Found behind the wall of a house on Belgravia Road in Onchan, which had formed part of the Second World War internment camp, this possibly was part of a secret stash of Italian internee's food. Surviving records suggest this building may have been used as the camp hospital for at least part of the duration of the war.
The can has text which states that it conforms to a production regulation of 1923, meaning that it certainly cannot be any earlier that this in date. The camp opened in July 1941 initially to hold German males, but from September 1941 until November 1944 it held Italians.
Measurements: overall: 10 x 8 cm
Materials: tin
Object name: tin
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1990-0167
Subject tags : #WW2INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS