Excellent tradesman

Giuseppe Lusardi was born in Bardi (Parma) Italy on the 28th February 1892.  He was arrested on the 10th June 1940 and most likely was living with his brother Federico (Fred) at 16 Commerical Street, Ystrad Mynach, Wales. Federico was also arrested and interned but was sent to the Isle of Man until c. December 1943. Giuseppe however would not return home until June 1945.

Giuseppe listed his wife Maria as his next of kin who was living in Casanova Molie (Parma) Italy. At the time, his three sons were also in Italy with their mother, with the sons working a farm near Bardi. The 1939 English and Welsh Register documented brothers and café proprietors Fred and Joseph Lusardi living at 16 Commerical Street.

In 1908, Giuseppe had arrived in Wales to work for his brother-in-law Massari, at 51 High Street, Bargoed and Beithdic Wales.  In 1926, he opened a shop and café at Ystrad Mynach, South Wales.  He stated that he had joined the Fascist Party in Cardiff primarily to enable him to travel to Italy, but he did not attend meetings.

While in Tatura Camp 2A, Victoria, Australia Giuseppe was sent to the 28 Australian Camp Hospital Waranga from 29th June to the 5th July 1943. Camp authorities documented that Giuseppe was a quiet, retiring and willing worker who worked as a carpenter in the camp works party and was an excellent tradesman.

In early 1944, he had ‘volunteered’ to enrol with the Civil Aliens Corps to work in forestry but withdrew his application c. June 1944 stating he suffered from indigestion pains and rheumatism. News of the working and living conditions with the Civil Aliens Corps had filtered back to the men in Tatura Camp and the negative comments seemed to have persuaded a group of six men to withdraw their applications.

Giuseppe would remain in Tatura Camp until the 19th February 1945 when he was transferred to Liverpool Transit Camp, NSW to await shipping.  On the 4th March 1945, Giuseppe along with 20 other UK Italians, boarded the Dominion Monarch. The ship’s register noted his address as 16 Commerical Road, Ystrad Mynach and he arrived in Liverpool on the 19th April 1945.  He was re-interned and released on the 12th June 1945. 

On the 2nd March 1976, Giuseppe died in Casanova Molie (Parma) Italy.