Patriotic rather than political

Francesco Mazzina was born in Napoli, Italy on the 21st April 1910.  A hotel head waiter, Francesco was living at 23 Princes Park Avenue, Golders Green, London, England when he was arrested on the 11th June 1940. He named his mother Filomena Mazzina of 42 Via Capuccino, Sorrento Secondo, Italy as his next of kin.

After arriving in London in 1927, Francesco worked in the kitchen at Barclay’s Hotel where his uncle F. Ferraro was manager. He followed his uncle to Mayfair Hotel.  His father had died while serving with the Italian Army in WW1 and he was the only one of his immediate family in England. He was considered by authorities to be a loyal Italian, patriotic rather than political and he associated with Giuseppe Lembo and Carlo Martinez.

A classification of ‘infirm’ allowed Francesco to be released to work in Melbourne rather than work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry.  On the 10th August 1944, he was released for employment as a kitchen hand and waiter at Mr T Farrell’s Kingsley Flats, Finchley Court, Hawthorne. Another five UK Italian internees also worked at this establishment.

Francesco boarded the SS Athlone Castle in Sydney on the 6th February 1945. He disembarked in Liverpool, England on the 29th March 1945 as a ‘released internee’.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: Dr G. Manzocchi; Dr G. Zezi; E. Bravo; F. Parravicini; P. Mariutto; A. Biasoni; G. Galbiati. Front row: F. Mattiussi; F. Mazzina; G. Borghi; G. V. Lembo. (AWM Image 030188/15 Photographer Colin Halmarick)