Loyal Subject of King George VI
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
Ernesto Cordani was born in Bardi (Parma) Italy on the 20th January 1889. He lived with his wife Pierina and four children at 72 High Street Rhymney, Monmouthshire, Wales when he was arrested on the 10th June 1940.
He had arrived in Wales in 1904 and worked as an ice-cream vendor until 1908. He returned to Italy and served in the Italian army from 1908-1911 and 1915-1919.
Ernesto returned to Wales was worked as an ice-cream vendor in Rhymney until 1927 when he opened a small restaurant/fish café which his wife continued to operate during his internment.
Regarding his political allegiances, Ernesto said he joined the fascist party in 1924, to assist his marriage that year. Without party membership, he could not have returned to Italy for his bride.
In Tatura Camp he worked as a boot repairer and he kept company with a quiet group of men, Giuseppe Lusardi a confectioner from Wales and Antonio Cavanna a restaurant proprietor from Wales. In the photo below, the men are all from Wales, highlighting the ongoing connection between the Welsh Italians.
Ernesto was industrious with a quiet and retiring disposition. A council officer in Rhymney wrote a letter to the Commanding Officer in Tatura attesting to Ernesto’s character, industry and allegiance to King George.
Ernesto was unsuitable for work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry but on the 10th August 1944, he was ‘released to industry’. He was employed as a kitchen hand/waiter for Mr T Farrell Kingsley Flats Finchely Court Hawthorne.
He returned to the UK on the Athlone Castle as a ‘released internee’. Ernesto arrived at Liverpool, England on the 29th March 1945 and returned to his home and family in Rhymney, Wales.
On the 25th May 1949, Ernesto Cordani, fish fryer and confectioner of Rhymney, Monmouthshire was granted his Naturalisation Certificate which was advertised in the London Gazette of 15th July 1949.
Ernesto died on the 23rd July 1965 at Monmouthshire, Wales.
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