A kind and jolly man and favourite uncle

Emilio Previdi was born on the 19th April 1898 in Gropparello (Piacenza) Italy. At the time of his arrest on the 11th June 1940, Emilio lived with his wife Angela (née Vallevante) at 23 Howland Street, Fitzroy Square, London, England. Their son Rodolfo was resident in Italy for health reasons.

In 1913, Emilio had arrived in London and worked as a waiter at Ricco’s Restaurant, Chapel Street, London. During WW1 he served with the 20 London Regiment- a Labour Corps until 1919 being awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. From 1919 – 1926, Emilio conducted Albion Restaurant at Fenton. He opened a small dairy before opening a small dairy and provisions business as 23 Howland Street: the shop at street level and their residence upstairs. Additionally, from 1928 onwards, Emilio was the proprietor of refreshment rooms at 11 Museum Street, Bloomsbury.

Emilio and Angela’s business, E. Previdi Ltd was a partnership, unusual for the time. On the 1939 England and Wales Register, Emilio listed his occupation as Manager Director Milk Wholesaler and Angela was listed as Director Milk Wholesaler. During Emilio’s internment his wife and brother continued to run the business which fortunately escaped damage during the bombings of London.

The sinking of the Arandora Star was a personal tragedy for Emilio.  While he survived, his brother Lodovico perished at sea.

During his internment in Australia, Emilio was considered a quiet, industrious worker who was a member of the garden party. Emilio’s main associates in camp were Lodovico Bertorelli, a London restauranteur and Francesco Mattiussi, an ice cream manufacturer from Manchester.  While in Tatura Camp 4B, Emilio was notified on the 27th June 1941 that his application for release to return to the UK had been refused.

On the 16th May 1944, Emilio along with 32 other UK Italian internees, was released for work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry at Peechelba, Victoria.  Ever the businessman, on the 18th June 1944, Emilio wrote to Mr Gardyne, Manager of the Allied Works Council to claim wages that had not been paid to him.  He stated that his engagement began on the 16th May, and therefore he should have been paid from the 16th May, but had only been paid from the 19th May, 1944.

Work with the CAC was a stepping stone to returning home. But for many of the men his age, medical problems restricted their ability to work.  Emilio was given four days sick leave in September 1944 due to acute rheumatism of the right shoulder.

 

Emilio boarded the SS Athlone Castle in Sydney on the 6th February 1945 for return to the UK.  He arrived in Liverpool, England on the 29th March 1945 as a ‘released internee’.

Friendships formed during internment continued post war.  In 1949, on the occasion of Angelo ‘Peter’ Ghisoni’s wedding, in Chiltern, Victoria, Australia Emilio travelled from England to attend the festivities as was reported in the newspaper: On 7th May 1949 Peter Ghisoni formerly of Regent’s Park London was married to Maria Teresa Bogetti in Chiltern. The best man was Frank Ferrucci of London (aka Rizzieri Ferrucci) and guests included Nazzari (Arturo) and Previdi (Emilio) of London. It was also an opportunity to reconnect with Arturo ‘Joseph’ Nazzari and Rizzieri ‘Frank’ Ferrucci, who had like Peter, remained in Australia post war. An additional connection was that Emilio was related through marriage to Arturo ‘Joseph’ Nazzari.

Tim Kuhles, Emilio’s great nephew recounted that Emilio’s son joined the business, possibly in 1945 and became the delivery driver, taking provisions to restaurants throughout London. Tim continued:  Food was very important for the Previdis: in fact it was a huge part of their lives. Dinner at Emilio and Angie’s would be a big event; all gathered around a huge table, in a room with flocked wallpaper, gold-rimmed picture frames and goblets brimming with wine. If it was a big get-together, there would a cacophony of noise and fast Italian chatter. Emilio would be the cook. 

Another important aspect of Emilio’s life was the Italian club – a social club where most of London’s Italians would gather. I recall visiting the “club” which was filled with the sound of the Italian language with tables of folk drinking and chatting, outside was a pitch for playing ‘bocce’ (Italian boules). This was highly competitive and someone was on hand with a tape measure to show which of the wooden balls was closest to the jack.’ 

Emilio and Angela moved to St. John’s Wood in 1966 after selling their building at Howland Street to developers. Emilo died in London in 1967 and as per his wishes, he was buried in his home village of Castellana (Piacenza) Italy.

Despite the traumatic and harrowing times Emilio faced during the war, he was remembered as ‘a kind and jolly man and a favourite uncle.’

 

 

Prayer Card for Emilio Previdi (from Emma Kuhles)