Mechanic and Shopkeeper

Alberto Maciocia was born in Isola del Liri (Frosinone) Italy on the 26th April 1898. He lived with his wife Beatrice, son and two daughters at 597 Wellesley Road, Methil, Scotland when he was arrested on the 10th June 1940.

He had arrived in Scotland in 1910 to work for his father in his café and confectionery business at Kirkaldie, Scotland.  From 1916 – 1918, Alberto served with the Italian army with the 58 Fanteria Regiment then he returned to Scotland, working for his father until 1926. Alberto then opened a café and confectionery business in Buckhaven, Scotland which he sold in 1937.

After a holiday in Italy, he went to Southend on Sea, England and opened a café for a season before opening a café in Paddington, London in 1939.  He then returned to Scotland and opened a café and confectionery business in Methil. On his Australian documents he was listed as ‘mechanic and shopkeeper’.

Regarding his sympathies for fascism, Alberto (aka Bert) by his own admission had joined the fascist party in 1934. Michael Maciocia a member of the extended Maciocia shared the following information: About 1922, Bert moved to Italy to get married to Beatrice di Luca from Atina.  Bert stayed in Italy till about 1926, returning and opening the café and shop in Buckhaven that is listed in the Italian census under Albert Maciocia. Bert was a “Fascisti” on his return.

When France sued for peace in 1940 and Italy opportunistically entered the war against France and the UK, Churchill’s infamously unfair, “Collar the lot”, policy destroyed the Maciocia family. Bert’s “fascisti” activities saw him being immediately arrested and shipped off on the Arandora Star, surviving the sinking, but upon being returned to Greenock, being sent immediately to Liverpool and onward to internment in Australia.

The meeting room that Gus (Bert’s brother) had built, and, allowed his brother to use for “fascisti” meetings came and bit the builder, as he too, the British citizen, was rounded up and imprisoned.

 In Tatura, he was a hut leader, but he never engaged in camp projects. It was noted that he wore a black shirt on festive days and it was believed that he was embittered throughout his internment and while he had ‘quietened down’ after Mussolini’s resignation and no longer used the fascist date on his letters, he remained sympathetic to the fascist cause.

Alberto suffered from poor health, suffering from asthma and bronchitis.  While at Loveday Camp 10, SA he was transferred to the Barmera Base Hospital from the 20th April until the 24th July 1942.

On the 20th July 1944, Alberto was ‘released on parole’ to work for Melford Motors Pty Ltd 62 Sturt Street, South Melbourne.

From Sydney, NSW he boarded the Athlone Castle on the 6th February 1945 and disembarked at Liverpool, England on the 29th March 1945.  The ship’s register listed his address as 72 David Street, Kircaldy, Scotland.

In January 1950, Alberto opened his Sitting Room and Snack Bar, Western Café in Denbeath.

(from Leven Mail Wednesday January 8 1950)