Assistant Quarter Master
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
Serafino Pini was born in Pontremoli (Massa and Carrara) Italy on the 7th June 1905. At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940, he lived with his wife Elisa at 44 James Street, London, England.
He had been educated at Seminario de Vescovile de Pontremoli, Italy as preparation for the priesthood but in time followed his father Domenico to London who operated five cafes and chocolate shops. In 1936 he married Elisa Fassini and they worked in their restaurant at 44 James Street, London.
Serafino was viewed by Intelligence Office at Tatura as very intelligent, strong willed and who had a dominating personality. He was sent to Loveday Camp 14D, South Australia from the 8th March 1944 to the 9th January 1945. At Loveday Camp, he informed the Overseas Internees Investigation Board on the 3rd October 1944, that since the fall of Italy, his views on the war and politics had changed. At Loveday Camp, he engaged in camp duties working as an assistant to the Quarter Master.
Due to his age and physique, Serafino was considered unfit for heavy manual work and remained in camp.
After his return to Tatura Camp 2A he was released to the UK on the 19th February 1945 transferring to Liverpool Camp, New South Wales until embarkation on the Dominion Monarch in Sydney Harbour on the 4th March 1945.
Upon arrival in Liverpool, England on the 19th April 1945, Serafino was re-interned on the Isle of Man. Two months later, on the 19th June 1945 Serafino was released from internment.
Serafino became a vital member of the London Italian community. He became president of the Mazzini Garibaldi Club until the 1980s. He was instrumental in erecting the first memorial to the Arandora Star at St Peter’s Italian Church in 1960 and was subsequently decorated with the title ‘Gran Ufficiale del Stato’ by the Italian state for his work for the Italian community after the Second World War. He died in 1989. (Capella, P. The Arandora Star Tragedy)
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