Parcels of Craven 'A'

Rocco Antonio Forte was born on the 27th November 1905 in Casacallico (Frosinone) Italy.  At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940, he was living at 36 Murray Place, Stirling, Scotland and operated The Central Café 36-38 Murray Place, Stirling with his two brothers which operated as P. Forte & Sons.

He had arrived in Scotland as a baby and from 1916-1924 returned to Italy for his education. After 18 months service with the Italian army, he returned to Scotland in 1926 and established a restaurant business with his two brothers.  The brothers expanded their business in 1939 by setting up another restaurant in Southampton. While Rocco was interned in Australia, one brother was interned in the Isle of Man and his other brother was in the Pioneer Corps.

 

From 8th March 1944 until the 9th January 1945, Rocco was transferred to Loveday Camp 14D, South Australia.  He appeared before the Overseas Investigation Board Loveday 2nd October 1944 and his report highlighted that Rocco was a changed man: a former fascist who had abandoned his fascist tendencies, willing to work in Australia until repatriation to UK.  His final Loveday report stated that he worked on the kitchen staff and had an excellent camp record.

Interestingly, while at Loveday Camp 14D Rocco received three parcels each containing 600 Craven ‘A’ cigarettes.  The first parcel received on the 28th March 1944 was from an unknown sender. The two other parcels received 16th May and 4th July 1944 were sent from Carreras Ltd. Arcadia Works, Cato Street, Prahran, a cigarette factory producing Craven ‘A’ and Turf brands of cigarettes. Considering cigarettes and tobacco products were ‘rationed’ during WW2, the receipt of such large quantities of cigarettes was noted by Intelligence Office but no investigations were followed through.

Rocco departed Tatura Camp 2A on the 19th February 1945 for transfer to Liverpool Camp, NSW to await embarkation.  He boarded the Dominion Monarch on the 4th March 1945 and arrived in Liverpool, England on the 19th April 1945. 

He continued his internment until his release on the 16th July 1945. Rocco returned to 38 Murray Street, Stirling, Scotland. On the 23rd November 1949, Rocco married Elena Arciero in Stirling.

Tatura, Australia. 13 February 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: M. Caira; L. Iannetta; V. Di Rollo; R. Forte; A. Maciocia; S. Iannetta. Front row: O. Noratianni; C. Nortatrianni; F. Iannetta; E. Casci. (AWM Image 030188/03 Photographer Colin Thomas Halmarick)