Ettore Bianchi of Bellagio

Ettore Bianchi was born on the 22nd February 1914 at Bellagio (Como) Italy and his mother Maria was listed as his next of kin in the same town.

Living in England, Ettore had worked as a hotel waiter and lived at the Majestic Gardens and Hotel Folkstone in 1939. He was arrested on the 13th June 1940.

Ettore’s brother Lieut. Augusto Ettore was in August 1943 held as a prisoner of war in a camp in India when Ettore wrote to him: I do not know what effect the news has had on you by the change on ITALY. To us it has made neither cold or hot, and it has left things as they were. After 38 months in internment the only thing in which we are interested is the end of the war, and we hope it comes quickly because probably our mother has need of our help. (NAA:MP70/1 37/101/185 Tatura Part 3)

His brother’s rank and status might have been a contributing factor to Ettore being sent to Loveday Camp 14D on the 8th March 1944.  He returned to Tatura Camp 2A on the 2nd August 1944 and was released for work with the Civil Aliens Corps on the 8th August 1944. The next day, he was classed as medically unfit for the Civil Aliens Corps. His case was directed to Manpower Department for reassignment for work, possibly in the Melbourne area. 

On the 5th November 1945, Ettore advertised in The Age (Melbourne) his intention to apply for naturalisation and listed his address as 21 Esplanade, St Kilda, Melbourne.

On 9th September 1946 Ettore was granted his Certificate of Naturalisation and his address was c/- Romano’s Restaurant, Castlereagh Street, Sydney.

An Ettore Giuseppe Mario Bianchi married Barbara Loftus in 1946 in Sydney and they lived at several Sydney addresses: Guilfoyle Avenue, Double Bay, East Crescent Street, McMahons Point and 23 Lido, North Narrabeen. Ettore worked as a waiter, restauranteur and manager. Barbara and Ettore moved to Brisbane where Ettore also listed his occupation as restauranteur. Barbara died in 1967, and Ettore married Silvia Wood (née Ceccato).  Ettore died in Griffith NSW in 1980 and was known as John.

Ettore Bianchi

(NAA:SP11/5 Bianchi Ettore)