A fortuitous decision

Celeste Servini was born in Bardi (Parma) Italy on the 16th October 1914.  At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940 Celeste was a café proprietor and living at 3 The Square Blackwood, Monmouthshire, South Wales.

His father Marcello had arrived in South Wales in 1902 to work in a colliery as a blacksmith, saved his money and established cafes, fish shops and a gym in the district.

Celeste married Hilda Rowlands in 1937 and like other UK Italian internees, made a point of referencing his wife as ‘British’ on his documents.  He shared part of his internment journey with his younger brother Lino; surviving the sinking of the Arandora Star, the 55-day journey to Australia on the Dunera, life behind barbed wire in Tatura Camps and Loveday Camps.

While in Loveday, South Australia on or just after the 12th January 1942, Celeste was advised through Major Layton that he had been approved to be returned to the UK for further investigation by the Advisory Committee.  He departed Loveday Camp 10 on 19th January 1942.  On the 26th January 1942 he arrived at Tatura Camp, Victoria via Broadmeadows Military Camp.

The timing of Celeste’s return to Tatura was fortuitous. On the 7th January 1942, the Commonwealth Government had agreed to allow release within Australia of internees held in Australia on behalf of the UK government. Particularly: As regards to fit men of military age a proposal is under consideration to give them the opportunity of voluntarily enlisting in the labour units of the Australian Military Forces. (NAA: 2908, P22 Part 8, 1942)  This appears to be the first mention of the formation of the 8th Employment Company.

(NAA: 2908, P22 Part 8, 1942)

By the time Celeste reached Tatura he now had two options open to him: return to the UK for the ‘possible’ release from internment or volunteer and enlist in the soon to be formed 8th Employment Company. He chose the latter.

On the 15th March 1942 Celeste was ‘released to Labour Battalion’. The 8th Employment Company also referred to as the 8th Labour Battalion or Works Company was not formed until the 7th April 1942. Those internees released to join the 8th Employment Company were firstly formed into fruit picking detachments on Goulburn Valley orchards. On Celeste’s Mobilization Attestation Form he lists his current job as ‘fruit picker’.  At Caufield, Melbourne on the 22nd April 1942 Celeste enlisted in the 8th Labour Coy.  Celeste was the only Dunera Italian to join the labour corps. The only other three Dunera Italians in Tatura Camp at that time were older men and had chosen to return to the UK.

 

He served with the 8th Employment Coy and was also temporarily detached to the 4th Employment Coy and 6th Employment Corps.  He was stationed at Royal Park later known as Camp Pell, Heidelberg, Broadmeadows and Tocumwal. He was discharged from the 8th Employment Coy on 25th May 1945 and arrived in Liverpool England on the Nieuw Amsterdam on 21st August 1945.

For Celeste, his choice to join the 8th Employment Company saved his life. Two of the Italians he returned to Tatura were Orlando Ugolini and Crescenzo Divito. They departed Australia late August on the Westernland and changed ships at Cape Town to the MV Abosso for return to England.  On the 29th October 1942, the MV Abosso was hit by torpedoes north of the Azores and sunk. Orlando Ugolini and Crescenzo Divito did not survive.

Celeste was granted naturalisation in June 1947.  He died in April 1975 in Pontypridd, Wales.