a true Italian and a very good worker

Luigi Jannetta was born on the 27th January (October) 1897 in Belmonte Castello (Frosinone) Italy.  He was a shopkeeper from Methil, Scotland when he was arrested on the 10th June 1940. Luigi, his wife Rosa and son lived at 13 Barrie Street, Methil.

By his own admission, he had joined the Fascist Party but after Italy went to war with Abyssinia, he disassociated himself from the party. Luigi was a very good worker who was engaged in the garden party. While he associated with Alberto Maciocia, Luigi himself was considered to be a true Italian without sympathy for the Fascist regime.

On the 16th May 1944, 33 UK Italian internees including Luigi were released for work with the Civil Aliens Corps working in forestry.

In early February 1945, a group of 63 ‘released’ Italian UK internees boarded the Athlone Castle for Liverpool.  The ship’s route went from Sydney via Wellington, New Zealand, the Panama Canal, New York USA and Ponta Delgado Azores. Luigi was in this group which landed in Liverpool, England on the 29th  March 1945.

Luigi Jannetta

January 1943 Tatura Camp 2A (AWM)