Guarnieri, Gino (Oral history)

Italian civilian internee in Lingfield Racecourse and Warth Mills Internment Camps in GB, 6/1940, aboard SS Arandora Star in North Atlantic, 1/7/1940-2/7/1940 including sinking by U-47, 2/7/1940, aboard HMT Dunera on voyage from GB to Australia, 7/1940-9/1940 and in Tatura and Loveday Internment Camps, Australia, 9/1940-2/1945

REEL 1 Background in Italy, 1925-1936: family; father's contacts with GB prior to First World War. Aspects of period as schoolchild and waiter in GB, 1936-1940: arrival with relatives in GB, 1936; education; problem of language difficulties; leaving school, 1939; employment as waiter in restaurants in London including Café Royal; reaction to outbreak of Second World War, 3/9/1939; visits to Italy, 1936-1939; opinion of Benito Mussolini. Aspects of period as internee in Lingfield Racecourse and Warth Mills Internment Camps, 6/1940: arrest on Italy entering war, 6/1940; interrogation about fascist activities at Littoria Club; initial internment in Chelsea Barracks, London and at Lingfield Racecourse Internment Camp; move to Warth Mills Internment Camp, Bury; friendship with Guido Baldi; reaction to arrest and internment; receiving prior warning about internment if Italy entered Second World War; effect of internment on business; categories of Italian internees; opinion of treatment by police; living conditions at Lingfield Racecourse Internment Camp. REEL 2 Continues: living conditions in Warth Mills Internment Camp, Bury. Recollections of voyage aboard SS Arandora Star in North Atlantic, 1/7/1940-2/7/1940 including sinking by German submarine U-47, 2/7/1940: embarkation on board SS Arandora Star at Liverpool, 1/7/1940; opinion of accommodation and treatment by guards and crew; problem of overcrowding; relations with sentry; attitude to being classed as an 'enemy alien'; torpedoing and sinking of ship by German submarine U-47, 2/7/1940; conditions in lifeboat; sight of ship sinking and bodies on board and in sea; state of panic on ship; problem of not having enough lifeboats and lack of lifeboat drill; speed of sinking; attitude to lifeboat sinking; comparison of behaviour of Italian and German internees; discovery by Short Sunderland Flying Boat of Coastal Command, RAF and rescue by Royal Canadian Navy destroyer HMCS St Laurent including problem of boarding destroyer; opinion of treatment received aboard HMCS St Laurent; disembarkation at Greenock, GB REEL 3 Continues: Aspects of period as internee in Liverpool, GB, 7/1940: relatives looking for survivors; reason for heavy loss of Italian lives in sinking; effect of sinking on turning hair curly; communication with family in Italy; move into disused factory; comparison of Italian and German internees; attitude towards Second World War and not being conscripted in Italy; Liverpool City Police's attempt to enforce conscription; story of British Army officer giving word about not being deported again from GB; reaction to prospect of being deported to Australia. Aspects of voyage as internee aboard HMT Dunera from GB to Australia, 7/1940-9/1940: embarkation at Liverpool; searches and theft of personal belongings; opinion of treatment by Pioneer Corps guards on board ship; desertion of soldiers at first stop; racists insults made against Italians; opinion of accommodation and living conditions; German submarine torpedo attacks on ship; German internees attempt to escape through locked door; psychological effect of torpedo attacks; later reaction to entry of Japan into Second World War, 12/1941; internee suicide; theft of possessions whilst sleeping. REEL 4 Continued: story of British Army officer not returning valuables given over for safe keeping; living conditions and state of health; opinion of food and sanitary facilities; physical exercise; description of stolen possessions; disembarkation at Sydney, Australia, 9/1940. Recollections of period as internee in Tatura Internment Camp, Australia, 1940-1943: initial impressions of Australians; opinion of treatment; description of camp and organisation; classes and recreational activities; reaction to release of Guido Baldi; relations with Australians; amusing story of being called 'bastards'; work on farm and in kitchen; story of British Army liaison officer dealing with complaints about treatment and thefts aboard HMT Dunera; Italian food cooked in camp; attitude to absence of women; change of status following Italian Government's surrender, 9/1943; question of returning to GB. REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as internee in Loveday Internment Camp, Australia, 1943-1945: offer of forestry work made to internees; making wine out of sultanas in camps; story of first dance with woman since internment; question of escaping from camp; reaction to Italian surrender, 9/1943; duties as cook in wood camps; nature of forestry work and pay; relations with Australian civilians; visits to nearby town; reason for decision not to remain in Australia after internment; voyage from Australia to GB, 2/1945. REEL 6 Continues: Reflections on period as internee in GB and Australia, 1939-1945: problem of finding employment on return to GB, 1945; attitude to treatment as internee and aboard HMT Dunera; description of tribunal procedure in GB; fear of being sunk during voyage from Australia to GB, 2/1945; opinion of British Government's policy towards internees; reason for not wanting British citizenship; attitude towards period as internee.