Business at Euston Railway Station

Raffaele Pini was born in Pontremoli (Massa and Carrara) Italy on the 20th (19th) March 1898.  A café business owner, Raffaele was arrested on the 10th June 1940 in London, England.  At the time, he was living with his wife Paolini (née Risoli) at 43 Drummond Street, Euston and operated several shops serving Euston Railway Station, London.

During Raffaele’s internment, his wife Paolina had to relinquish all but one business.

In 1912, Raffaele had arrived in London and worked as a shop assistant before going to Paris, where his father was.  He then served in the Italian Army with Machine Gunner units during WW1.  In 1920, he returned to London and worked for a business operated by Pini and Bardini families until 1921 when he opened his first business: light refreshments, confectionery and tobacconist at 38 Lisle Street, Leicester. His next business at 43 Drummond Street, Euston, London was opened in 1935.

He applied to the Home Office for release to the UK but on the 30th December 1943, approval for his released was refused. Raffaele returned to Loveday Camp, this time to Camp 14D from the 8th March 1944 to the 9th January 1945. He appeared before an Overseas Internees Investigation Board hearing on 3rd October 1944. Raffaele was not considered to be a security risk if released in Australia and it was noted that his medical classification, due to his age, showed him to be unfit for heavy manual work. Raffaele remained in camp. He received news on the 19th December 1944, that permission was granted for him to return to the UK to appear before the Italian Advisory Committee.

He was released to the UK on the 19th February 1945, departing Tatura Camp 2A, Victoria for Liverpool Camp, New South Wales.  On the 4th March 1945 he boarded the Dominion Monarch in Sydney, New South Wales with 20 other UK Italian internees. The ship arrived in Liverpool, England on the 19th April 1945.  Raffaele was re-interned until his release on the 5th June 1945.