The Dunera Italians

.(AWM Image 03188/16 Photographer Colin Halmarick 1943)

"When Italy declared war on this country His Majesty's Government decided to order the internment 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 for the information of the Australian Government SECRET

(NAA:MP729/6, 63/401/122)

(Luce Archivo 10 Givgno Anno XV111)

Snapshots

Machine makes the best coffee

(from Middlesex Independent and W. London Star Jan. 8 1954)

9 hours ago1 min read

Keep your chins up

Rescue efforts for the survivors of the Arandora Star. Note dropped by the RAF Sunderland Flying Boat ‘Keep your chins up. Help will soon...

1 day ago1 min read

Tragedy for Giovanni

Giovanni Moruzzi was married to Maria Sartori for only six months before he was interned. He was on the top deck of the ‘Arandora Star’...

2 days ago1 min read

The camp clothes are not bad...

Michele Coia was born in New Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, Scotland on the 8th May 1910. His family came from the Isernia province of...

3 days ago2 min read

Father and son

Giovanni Cua was born in Alice Castello (Vercelli) Italy on the 28th February 1885. At the time of his arrest in London, England on the...

4 days ago2 min read

A Uruguayan Italian

Luigi Cappuccini was born in Montevideo, Uruguay on the 10th March 1887. His family was from the Massa and Carrara province of Italy. At...

5 days ago2 min read

Visitors allowed

Visitors were allowed to visit internees in the camps provided the necessary permission were obtained. Mrs R Gesulda of Fitzroy,...

6 days ago1 min read

Giulio Gamberini

Giulio Gamberini was born in San Pietro in Cerro (Piacenza) Italy on the 24th May 1887. He was living with his wife Giuseppina at 12...

7 days ago1 min read

Art reflects life

Sketches and painting done by the internees provide insight into life in the camps: the exchange of conversation between Germans and...

May 91 min read

Letters from Ma make me anxious

Ivaldo Cleland Antinori was born in Bagni di Lucca (Lucca) Italy on the 16th December 1918. At the time of his arrest on the 10th June...

May 83 min read

Rest in Peace

Reverence and solemnity was afforded to those Italian prisoners of war and internees who died in Australia. As per the notice below, ten...

May 71 min read

White Paper Category 15

Category 15. Persons who had a British-born or naturalised son serving in the British Navy, Army or Air Force. From the collection of Eli...

May 61 min read

A polygot

Giuseppe Achille Belloni was born in San Colombano al Lambro (Milano) Italy on the 23rd May 1887. At the time of his arrest on the...

May 52 min read

Before internment...

With the escalation in the war, from Monday 3rd June 1940, the Home Office imposed a curfew on all aliens and Stateless persons over the...

May 41 min read

Good friends

Both from London, Andrea Pini, a shop manager and Luigi Beschizzi, a caterer were good friends. They shared a common love of football. ...

May 31 min read

Interned with his brother

Giovanni Mocogni was born in Barga (Lucca) Italy on the18th February 1893. He lived at 20 Upper Grey Street, Edinburgh, Scotland with...

May 21 min read

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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