Description
Physical description
Dark-stained wooden money box with brass metal detail, shaped like a First World War tank, the coin slot is a square metal plate positioned on the top of the turret, there are a total of five guns which are all metal.
History note
The donor's father, Harry Hugman, made this tank for the his son, Lester in 1918. Harry Hugman was a skilled craftsman so was exempt from army service. His war years were spent building Handley Page airplanes in Ruston's engineering firm of Lincoln. He worked endless hours seven days a week.
The River Witham runs through the city of Lincoln right into the heart of the industrial district. On moonlit nights the river shines like a silver ribbon: an easy path for German planes to follow. Blackouts were enforced. The stale air combined with workplace fumes was unhealthy. In 1918 Harry Hugman became seriously ill with consumption. During his long convalescence he made models such as this tank moneybox and pieces of furniture for his wife. One day, on the streets of Lincoln, a woman gave Harry Hugman a white feather. He was shocked and deeply hurt.
The donor's brother, Lester, whom the tank was given, had his life saved by a British tank during the retreat from El Alamien. He and a companion were running, crouched, along field ditches. German snipers were hidden in nearby trees. A British tank came rumbling down the road and stopped beside them. A young officer stuck his head out of the turret and shouted 'Run for it!'. The companion was helped into the tank first. However, just as Lester's right arm was grasped, the snipers opened fire. Ducking his head into the tank the officer yelled, 'Go! Go!' all the while holding tenaciously to Lester's right arm. Lester had been shot in the left leg and arm. When he regained consciousness he found himself lying in a field hospital but his fighting days were over.