Description
Object description
Italian civilian interned in Wharf Mills camp, Bury, Lancashire, 1940; survived sinking of SS Arandora Star, 2/Jul/1940; interned in Tatura and Loveday camps, Australia, 1940-1944
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Italy, 1916-1919: family; initial contact with GB prior to First World War; story of emigration with family to GB, 1919. Aspects of period in GB, 1919-1940: lived in Soho area of London; education and secretarial training; reason for becoming tailor; contacts with Italian community and clubs in London; attitude to Mussolini; reaction to outbreak of war, 9/1939; reaction to Italian entry into war; story of arrest and confinement at Vine Street Police Station and at Lingfield racecourse; transferred to Wharf Mills internment camp, Bury, Lancashire, 1940; story of attitude of landlord to arrest; opinion of treatment after arrest. Aspects of period of internment in Wharf Mills camp, Bury, Lancashire, 1940: description of living conditions in camp; nickname of 'Dead End Kids' for young internees; question of high proportion of elderly internees in camp; story of father's internment; morale in camp; communication with mother in Italy; story of confusion of identities following sinking of SS Arandora Star. Aspects of period aboard SS Arandora Star including sinking, 2/Jul/1940: story of arrival at ship and question of destination; location of Germans and Italians aboard ship; accommodation and living conditions; question of security measures; opinion of treatment; story of Dr. Zezi; comparison of Italian and German seamanship skills; problem of lack of lifeboat instruction.
REEL 2 Continues: description of torpedoing and sinking of Arandora Star, 2/Jul/1940; problem of too few lifeboats and lack of instruction in handling; clung to raft for over five hours; description of ship sinking and people in water; various stories of people trapped aboard Arandora Star; comparison of reaction of German and Italian passengers; question of panic and fighting aboard ship; rescued by SS St Laurent and sailed to Liverpool via Greenock; reaction to being put aboard SS Dunera; further description of torpedo attack; looting of survivors personal belongings; story of survivor Luigi Beschizza; passengers ordered to throw suitcases and personal belongings into sea; Aspects of period aboard SS Dunera, 1940: description of voyage to Australia.
REEL 3 Continues: comparison of conditions aboard Arandora Star and Dunera; opinion of treatment by crew and captain; story of hiding gold ring; comparison of treatment of German Jewish and Italian passengers; question of compensation for Jewish and Italian passengers; Layton's role in Australia; tribunal and question of release; physical condition of passengers on arrival in Australia; further description of conditions aboard Dunera; opinion of food; story of practical joke; opinion of necessity to intern Italians; physical exercise aboard ship; story of suicide; use of barbed wire cages; story of stabbing of passenger by guard; morale among passengers; separating of families; description of arrival in Melbourne, Australia. Aspects of period of internment in Australia, 7/1940-10/1944: description of Tatura internment camp no 2; daily routine and duties in camp; various memories of other internment camps including Loveday.
REEL 4 Continues: story of being sent to punishment camp for three months; description of camp and inmates; reaction of internees to surrender of Italy, 1943; description of work; story of return to GB, 1946; question of remaining in Australia after end of war; tribunals; length of internment; attitude to being interned; opinion of treatment by guards. Post-war life and employment in GB: problem of finding employment; attitude to being interned with father; problem of lack of contact with women during internment; opinion of 50th anniversary commemoration held at Imperial War Museum, London; attitude to being given medal to commemorate sinking of Arandora Star.