Worlds rarest tank reunited with compass after more than a century

23 April 2024

After more than 100 years apart, the world’s rarest tank, the German AV7 Sturmpanzerwagen known as Mephisto, has been reunited with its compass, which has gone on display alongside the iconic tank in Queensland Museum’s Anzac Legacy Gallery.

Mephisto is the only surviving tank of its kind in the world and was one of only 20 ever made. Its equally rare compass was donated to Queensland Museum by Tom Lamin in 2023, after his grandfather, Lt Horace Lynch brought the compass home with him after the First World War.

Queensland Museum CEO Dr Jim Thompson said displaying the compass in Brisbane was timely in the lead up to Anzac Day.

“The recent discovery and display of the compass of Mephisto, the sole surviving A7V Sturmpanzerwagen in the world, and one of the best-known objects in Queensland Museum’s collection, continues the legacy of Mephisto in Queensland,” Dr Thompson said.

“Over the years the tank has been the subject of significant research and conservation work. Recently our team of curators and conservators spent some time inside the tank investigating graffiti and marks, while the tank received an inspection and oil change by specialist conservators.

Recovered from the battlefield by Australian troops during the First World War Mephisto has become an iconic part of Queensland’s heritage and history.

Queensland Museum Senior Curator Dr Liz Bissell said thanks to the generosity of Mr Lamin, the compass would now take pride of place beside Mephisto in Anzac Legacy Gallery.

“Mephisto is this amazing multivocal object that can tell so many stories, from Australia’s involvement in their first global armed conflict, to the development of our Anzac identity and of course the Queensland stories that have developed from having the tank as part of our collection,” Dr Bissell said.

“We’ve done a lot of research and we know that Tom’s grandfather, Lieutenant Lynch, and Mephisto crossed paths, so having the compass come into Queensland Museum completes another chapter in the tank’s story.”

Visitors can learn more about the fascinating history of the compass and how it made its way back to Mephisto as part of a series of free pop-up talks and tours being presented on Thursday 25 April from 2pm-4pm within Anzac Legacy Gallery on Level 1 at Queensland Museum.