Metal Tractor Made by a Soldier Interned at a Camp

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

52647

Title

Metal tractor made by a soldier interned at a camp in Humbie, East Lothian during World War II

Description

Red metal and wood tractor and wagon. Hand-made, tractor has one small wooden wheel in front and two large wooden wheels at back. The word 'cast' is painted (black) on both sides of tractor and on mudguard of right back tyre. Licence plate number painted on, 'SH 6951'. Wagon (red) is separate and attaches to the tractor by a hook, wheels on wagon(rubber) are not original.

Type

Toy

Accession number

MC595.2002

Copyright

The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

The tractor was made by a prisoner of war internet at a camp at Humbie in East Lothian during World War II. The camp was probably not a prison, but the inmates were made to work on the neighbouring farms. We know from the family who donated the tractor that it was made as a gift for the son of the farmer on whose farm he worked. It is a model of the tractor he saw around him – we know it even has the same number plate. The Museum of Childhood collected it to show how the lives of children in Scotland were touched by events happening overseas – no one is immune from the effects of war.

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