All the screaming stopped ... silenzio

Cesare Casali was born in Morfasso (Piacenza) Italy on the 12th July 1903. At the time of his arrest on the 12th June 1940, his wife Esterina and his 4 children were living in Vigolo Marchese (Piacenza) Italy.

Cesare had two brothers, one with which he was a silent partner in a business at 111 Westbourne Grove, London and Giuseppe, who died when the Arandora Star sank.

From The Arandora Star Tragedy 75 Years on edited by Peter Capella:

It was a clear day, early in the morning on 2nd July.  He heard the torpedo in the water before it struck but didn’t realise what it was.  Suddenly there was mayhem – he stayed on the boat as long as he could because he couldn’t swim, and when the water was level with the deck lowered himself into the sea and clung to a large piece of wood.  There were two or three of them holding on.  His brother Joe was a strong swimmer but he couldn’t see him in the water or on any of the lifeboats.  There were a few lifeboats in the water, but there weren’t enough to take all the people on board.  The last time he saw his brother was just before he jumped in the water. Joe was resolved to stay with his friend Federico Solari who couldn’t swim, and they decided to try to get to a higher deck. The last time Cesare saw his brother alive, he was climbing a stair with Federico to get clear of the rising sea; it had wire caging around it.  The Arandora Star rose suddenly out of the water and a few seconds later it went down-very quickly-in moments.  All the screaming stopped and in his words – ‘silenzio’.

Cesare spent his early years in London but departed for Italy in 1911. He returned to London and in 1921 assisted his father in a small tea shop and ice cream venture at 1 Lonsdale Street, London and then was employed as a motor driver for Carlo Gatti Ltd, ice manufacturers. 

While he applied for release to work in the Civil Aliens Corps, he withdrew his application in June 1944.

Cesare returned to Liverpool, England on the Dominion Monarch which arrived on the 19th April 1945. On the ship’s register his address was listed as 111 Westbourne Grove and his occupation as lorry driver.  He continued his internment until his release on the 5th June 1945.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: D. Accini; P. Mariutto; C. Casali; V. Gallinari; R. Freppoli; M. Pini. Front row: P. Strina; Gio. Moruzzi; V. Corinti; A. Sidoli. (AWM Image 030188/08 Photographer Colin Halmarick)