London Boarding House Keeper

Francesco Capra was born in Fubine (Alessandria) Italy on the 26th May 1881. He was arrested in London on the 10th June 1940 and listed his wife Maria Capra at 55 Hunter Street, London, England as his next of kin on his Australian document. Francesco and Maria had one son Luigi who graduated as a doctor in 1941.

His occupation was listed as boarding house keeper/hotel proprietor. Francesco had arrived in London in 1900 and worked as a waiter until 1904 when he returned to Italy for five years. 

In 1909, he settled in London and by 1926 he had purchased a property at Brunswick Square and operated it as a boarding house.  He expanded his business and purchased an adjacent property.  He also owned a property in Holland Park, London which was leased.  His wife continued to operate their business interests during his internment.

He was refused permission to return to UK on the 5th March 1943 but was ‘released on parole’ to work as a cook at the Commercial Travellers Association, Melbourne on the 20th June 1944. 

Francesco departed Australia on the Nieuw Amsterdam on the 7th July 1945 and arrived in Liverpool England on the 21st August 1945 as a ‘released internee’.  His listed address on the ship’s register was 7 Brunswick Square, London.

Francesco died in 1959.

Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: S. L. Vergano; B. Calderoni; E. Guido; A. Nazzari; G. Gazzano; G. Ferrari. Front row: M. Fagiano; U. Scaravelli; E. Rossi; F. Capra. (AWM Image 030188/07 Photographer Colin Halmarick)