Café owner from Cowdenbeath

Giobatta Orlandi was born in Beverino (Spezia) Italy on the 29th August 1899.  At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940, he lived with his wife Ida, son and daughter at 287-289 High Street, Cowdenbeath, Scotland.

After serving in the Italian Army during WW1, Giobatta arrived in Scotland in 1921 and worked for his brother-in-law Paolo Pallizamani.  In 1923, he opened his own business, a café in Cowdenbeath. His wife Ida took over the operation of the café when Giobatta was arrested until October 1940 when due to Cowdenbeath being in a restricted area, the café closed. His family then moved to Glasgow.

Giobatta was approved to return to the UK for appeal on the 22nd December 1942 and despite completing a ‘willingness to travel permission form’ did not depart Australia until February 1945.  He stated he had never joined the Fascist Party and had last visited Italy in 1932.  Giobatta was incensed and antagonistic about the affiliation of the Ex- Italian Servicemen’s Association with the Fascist Party.

A constant worker in the compound kitchen in Tatura Camp, Giobatta's concern was to be reunited with his family. 

On the 16th May 1944, he was ‘released on parole’ for work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry.

On the 29th March 1945, Giobatta disembarked the SS Athlone at Liverpool, England. His internment was over.

A notification in the The London Gazette of the 17th August 1948, documented that Giobatta Orlandi was awarded his Certificate of Naturalisation on the 15th July 1948.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: A. Pacitti; V. Bechelli; R. Ciuffardi; R. Mazzolini; C. Pardini; G. Biagioni. Front row: G. Orlandi; C. Barsotti; M. Croci; L. Minchella.

(AWM Image 030188/05 Photographer Colin Halmarick)