A convenient scapegoat

Giorgio Boggio was born in Lessona (Biella) Italy on the 10th April 1911.  At the time of his arrest on the 11th June 1940 he was undertaking studies in the field of Economics under a Springher Foundation Scholarship in England.  He also claimed to have held an entry visa for Australia and an exit visa from Britain to continue studies in Sydney, Australia. Previously, he had worked as an Economics Professor at the University of Milan.  His Australian documents listed his mother Elena Boggio at 4 Via Quintino Sella, Lessona, Italy as his next of kin.

Giorgio was intelligent and articulate and used connections to find a way to be cleared for release in Australia firstly under his original entry visa for Australia and secondly as a university tutor or secondary school teacher or economic or statistical worker for government departments. He did secure a position as a member of the editorial staff for Reverend Modotti’s prospective new magazine ‘Angelo’ but this does not seem to have progressed.  He wrote to EJR Heyward, Queens College Carlton Melbourne, Consul for Switzerland, Prof. Lionel Robbins, London School of Economics Cambridge, John Burton External Affairs Canberra and Australian Legation Washington, RE Armstrong Security Services Canberra and Prof. Robbins War Cabinet Britain, pleading his case.

He was considered by Intelligence Office in Tatura to be ‘most dangerous because of his intellectual attainments and wide influential connections.’ While well behaved he was known to cause discontent and was responsible for underground acts and he gave the impression of insincerity, being sly and untrustworthy.

Giorgio’s (aka Giorgetto) defence was that he was ‘a convenient scapegoat’ and unfairly ‘purported to be nothing less than the political big-nob in the camp.’ He no doubt felt that he was a victim for his patriotism and wrote: ‘It is easy to fight for one’s country, it is not difficult to die for it, but the supreme test of patriotism is willingness to suffer for it.’

Sent to Loveday Camp 14D in March 1944, Giorgio appeared before an Overseas Internees Investigation Board on the 2nd October 1944. In summation, it was reported that while he had not been engaged in anti-British activities in Loveday Camp, it was considered that his denial of friendship with fascist elements was insincere. Permission for his release was not approved. Giorgio returned to Tatura Camp 2A on the 1st February 1945 where he would wait until transfer to England.

On the 2nd August 1945, Giorgio arrived in Liverpool, England on the Dominion Monarch; his address was documented as c/- Home Office, London. He was reinterned until the 12th November 1945 when he was repatriated to Italy.

Tatura, Australia. January1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: L. Poggioli; C. Gauna; G. Cocozza; A. Rabaiotti; A. Cavaciuti; C. Bruni. Front row: G. Scola; G. Gamberini; G. Boggio; R. Ferrucci. (AWM Image 030188/04 Photographer Colin Halmarick)

In March 1945, internees in Tatura Camp 2A were photographed, BUT the photo does not list the names of the men. There is no doubt that the man standing centre is Giogio Boggio.

Can you recognise your nonno?

Tatura, Australia. 12 March 1945. Group of internees in A Compound, No. 2 Camp, Tatura Internment Group. (AWM Image 030248/11, Photographer Ronald Leslie Stewart)