A gentleman

A bank clerk for Banca Commercial Italiana, Giovanni Osmetti's letter (below) to the Camp Commandant Tatura Camp 2 expressed his gratitude for his medical treatment and gentlemanly nature.

Giovanni Osmetti (NAA:A367, C75834)

Giovanni Osmetti was born in Grossotto (Sondrio) Italy on the 19th November 1898. At the time of his arrest on the 11th June 1940, Giovanni was living with his wife Anna at their home at 8 Sycamore Gardens, Hammersmith, London, England.

After serving in the Italian Alpini Corps and Airforce 1918-1919, Giovanni began work at the Banca Commercial Italiana.  In 1924, he arrived in London and continued to work for the bank as a bank clerk.

Giovanni married Anna Blustein (of Turkish-Jewish heritage) in 1931.  While Giovanni was interned, their home at 8 Sycamore Gardens, Hammersmith was damaged by the bombings of October 1940 and Anna then moved to 182 Hammersmith Grove, London.

Although Giovanni was granted permission for repatriation to Italy by the Mixed Medical Commission and then ‘release’ in Australia, he chose to remain in camp.  He had suffered ill health; an enlarged goitre and he hoped to delay an operation until his return to England. 

However, he was transferred to the 28 Australian Camp Hospital, Waranga from the 6th to the 19th May, 1943 for treatment followed by an operation in November 1943, believed to be removal of his thyroid. When he received the news that he was to be released in Australia he wrote to Anna: I got the news, though I should have expected it, I got frightened. I feel very much run down and had to put it off at least for awhile. I feel more secure here in this camp. I hope that in the meantime, something will come out concerning my return home, which is the only thing I wish and look forward to. (NAA:A367, C75834)

His camp report stated that Giovanni was quiet, industrious, well-educated and his conduct was excellent.  He had undertaken clerical work as a member of the Mail Order and Office Administration and then as manager of the camp canteen. 

Regarding his political leanings, Giovanni was considered to be loyal to Italy with no sympathy for the regime which caused so much misery.

Giovanni arrived in Liverpool, England onboard the Dominion Monarch on the 19th April 1945.  He continued his internment until his release on the 13th June 1945.

At the time of his death on the 23rd February 1956, Giovanni was living at 207 Goldhawk Road, Hammersmith.

Giovanni Osmetti (seated)         Giovanni Osmetti at Academy     Giovanni Osmetti, Pietro Robustellini

  (cousin) and Lazzaro Osmetti (brother)

(photos courtesy of Roy Robustellini)