Home on the SS Themistocles

Emilio Sampietro was born in Bellagio (Como) Italy on the 3rd August 1904. In October 1939, Emilio was living at 10 Old Gloucester Street, London, England and was working as a head waiter. He was arrested on the 12th June 1940 in London. He named his wife Mary as his next of kin on his Australian record and at the time, Mary was living at Villa Colombo Sana [Suna] di Verbania Lago Maggiore.

Luigi Beschizza had a clear memory of Emilio as the Arandora Star was sinking. Luigi said: there was no panic, confusion… plenty, bewilderment loads of it, what are we going to do, I thought let’s get out of this crowd, I went up another deck, when I got to this deck there was [Emilio] Sampietro there, he was craning his head around saying you silly… straighten up that boat, they were lowering the boats, I said what are you doing Sam, he said the silly bastards, they were trying to lower the boat, the boat came down level with the deck and he said jump in Schizz (Beschizza) (Beschizza 1990)

Another memory from Luigi Beschizza was from the Dunera; Emilio was a table head. Luigi and his friends Andy and Peter were hungry and Luigi recalled: Andy said, Sampietro he has a bit of bread, a crust underneath his pillow. I said come on, you can pinch his piece of bread. He said why not, he is head of the table and when gets his bread, he cuts the first crust and hides it, and then he gets up at 3 o’clock in the morning, and eats it. (Beschizza 1990) Such was the situation on the Dunera regarding food that men were so hungry they had to hide or steal food.

In Tatura Camp 2B, Emilio played in a football game in December 1940 playing goalie for Hut 2. Vittorio Tolaini reported that Sampietro the goalie had flung himself full length in an attempt to save, but unluckily failed.

Emilio was released to the UK from Tatura Camp 2A on the 20th November 1943 and boarded the SS Themistocles on the 2nd December 1943. He travelled with 12 other UK Italian internees who disembarked at Cardiff. Wales on the 14th February 1944. Emilio was re-interned on the Isle of Man until his release to ILB (Labour Battalion?) on the 12th May 1944.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: G. Tome; S. Corna; U. Ugolini; E. Sampietro; G. Costan; A. Cima. Front row: L. Strola; O. Tome; G. Consoli; N. Bertoia; R. Chiocconi. ( AWM Image 030188/11 Photographer Colin Halmarick)