His business was wound up...

Luigi Poggioli was born in Farina D’Olmo (Piacenza) Italy on the 27th May 1906. At the time of his arrest on the 11th June 1940, he was living and working at 5 Charlotte Street, London.  His wife Margherita and his mother Luiga were caught in Italy when war was declared as his mother had broken her leg and had to delay their return to England. Margherita gave birth to their child while Luigi was interned.

 

His family had a long association with the hospitality industry in London, with his grandfather Luigi starting the first business in 1865. Grandson Luigi arrived in London in May 1920 and attended school then a technical college learning art and electrical engineering, these two fields would become hobbies only.  He worked with his father in the family restaurant, then when his father died in 1934, he took over the operation of the business.  In 1938, he married Margherita Provini. 

During internment one of his sisters continued the business but The London Gazette of 12th October 1943, advertised the winding up of Poggioli’s Restaurant at 5 Charlotte Street. 

 

 (The London Gazette 12 October 1943 p. 4513)

 

While in Tatura Camps, it was noted that he had worked in the compound canteen for one and a half years and also installed electrical wiring and fittings in the new compound in Camp 2A.  His main friend was Giovanni Osmetti, who was the only man he had known prior to internment.

Luigi was released to work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry on the 27th September 1944.  On the 7th July 1945, he boarded the Nieuw Amsterdam with nine other UK Italian internees and arrived in Liverpool, England on the 21st August 1945 as a ‘released internee’. The ship’s register noted his address as 4 Park Mansions, Allitsen Road, London.