A noble and unselfish action

Santo Albericci's son John joined the British Armed Forces with the intention of aiding his father’s release from internment under Category 15: Person who have, or have had, a British born or naturalised son serving in His Majesty’s Forces.

A family friend Brother Joseph, became aware of a division within the Albericci family regarding John's enrolment, which prompted him to write to Santo.

SECRET

Sender:

Brother Joseph,

Xaverian College,

Manchester, 15,

England

Addressee:

Santo Albericci,

E25000,

No. 2 Internment Camp,

Tatura.

14/5/43

Extract:

I hope you will forgive me if I seem to be interfering, but I have heard that all is not well with your family and I may be able to help with certain information.  The trouble arises from the fact that John has joined the Army.  Well, he only had a choice of 2 courses (1) Internment (2) Joining the Forces. 

He chose the latter course entirely for your own personal benefit as he thought that if he joined the Army, it would prove the good faith of the family and facilitate the granting of permission for you to be allowed to return to England and to your wife and family. Not least of all, John himself was hoping to see you and enjoy your company and rejoice in the knowledge that he had been able to make some little addition to the comfort of a father who had ever been so kind to him. 

I have known John too long and too well than to attribute anything but the highest and most honourable motives to his every action. It would indeed be a lasting cause of regret with you if anything happened to John while in the forces, when having joined solely with the intention of helping you to return to England, you did not show any recognition or fatherly feeling for his noble and unselfish action. 

Please forgive me for being so candid but I am sure that later on, when all the madness of war is over, when you are happily joined once more with those you love, when the sorrows and worries of exile are over, then you will realise that John has done more than many sons would be prepared to do… (NAA:A376, C75944)

(NAA:A376, C75944)