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Ship model made by an Italian internee during the Second World War

Date made: 1943

Place made: Douglas

Description: This hand-made wooden ship model was crafted by an Italian civilian internee called Aniello Mennela, held in a camp in Douglas during the Second World War.

The three masted ship is fully rigged and is flying the Manx flag. The hull has been constructed from separate strips of wood to create the planking. The model is built on a base with a label which reads 'By Mennela Aniello - Prisoner of War - 'S' Camp - Douglas (I.O.M.) Dec. 1943'. However, there is a Home Office internment card for an Aniello Meumella (apparently the same person). He is recorded as an Italian seaman from the ship SS 'Procida'. He was held in the Metropole Camp. Date of birth 20 April 1906. SS 'Procida' was a German owned steamship built 1927 and sunk by the Royal Navy 100 miles west of Crete, 1941. This was probably where this man was captured.

The Isle of Man played an important role as a centre for internment of Germans, Austrians and Italians in the Second World War. Italian-made craftwork is more common than German. The Italians, as predominantly economic rather than political migrants to Britain, found it harder to demonstrate anti-fascist credentials. Thus they tended to be held on the Island for longer than the Germans.

Materials: cotton, wood

Object name: ship model

Collection: Social History Collection

ID Number: 2009-0150

Subject tags : #WW2INTERNMENTMUSEUMCOLLECTIONS

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