.(AWM Image 03188/16 Photographer Colin Halmarick 1943)
Canzone dei 200
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The 10 June 1940 changed the lives of thousands of Italians living outside of Italy. With Benito Mussolini’s declaration of war with France and England, these Italians were declared ‘enemy aliens’ with consequence of arrest and internment.
For 200 Italians living in England, Scotland and Wales, their internment would take them 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom to Australia.
"Canzone dei 200" follows these Italians from their arrest, internment in UK, rescue after the sinking of the Arandora Star, the journey on the Dunera to Australia and life behind the barbed wire in Tatura Camps, Victoria and Loveday Camps, South Australia.
For these 200 Italians, their journey is one of heartache, survival, endurance and resilience.
Snapshots
"When Italy declared war on this country His Majesty's Government decided to order the internment in the UK of all Italians between the ages of 16 and 70 who were known fascisti, together with any male Italians between those ages who had not been permanently resident here for 20 years."
Memorandum from UK Home Office for the information of the Australian Government SECRET
(NAA:MP729/6, 63/401/122)
an avid reader of history and researcher
WW2 is a complex history; a war spanning six years affecting civilians and military personel across the globe. Many social, economic and political aspects of war are often forgotten in the documentation of this history.
The Dunera Italians are a group of 200 civilian internees who were arrested in England, Scotland and Wales and who were brought to Australia for internment. It is important that the history of their internment is not forgotten.
Joanne Tapiolas
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