Forestry Work with CAC

After three years in internment camps, did the authorities really believe that a group of shopkeepers, waiters, cooks, ice cream manufactures, confectioners would be physically up to the challenge of timber felling in the Victorian forest?

Work in forestry was physically demanding and more than one of the UK Italians who 'volunteered' to work for the Civil Aliens Corps (CAC) were seen by a doctor for a range of medical conditions: weak heart, high blood pressure, muscular strains, nose bleeds, hernias.

A shopkeeper from Forfar, Scotland Enrico Fortura had spent time in hospital for pleurisy and duly asked for a reassignment to work which was less physical. In the first instance Enrico was informed that this was not possible. Enrico was prepared to return to Tatura Camp if light work could not be found for him. Finally Dr Davies signed off on Enrico who he deemed fit for camp orderly duties and part time road work.