Quiet, hardworking type...
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Feb 7
- 2 min read
Manfredo Pini was born in Bardi (Parma) on the 27th January 1898. He lived with his wife Anna (née Comini) at 39 Endell Street, Covent Garden, London, England; their six-year-old son had died in 1937.
A terrazzo/ mosaic/cement worker, Manfredo had arrived in England in 1920. At the time of his arrest, he was working for United Ice Company in London as an Ice Merchant. In the 1939 England Register, Manfredo noted his occupation as mosaic worker (ice) heavy worker and his wife Anna was a restaurant waitress.
While in Australia, he was viewed as a quiet, hard worker who was a wood party member. His friends were Vito Gallinari, who worked for Carlo Gatti Ice Manufacturers and Giovanni Moruzzi who worked as a lorry driver for United Ice Company. Manfredo was not related to the other Pini internees.
After his notification that he was approved to return to the UK, Manfredo wrote to Major Layton on the 27th August 1943: In view of the sad experience I had during my journey to Australia, I have decided to remain here for the time being. (NAA:A367 C74774) He did however express his willingness to work as a cement and terrazzo worker or on a farm.
On the 30th November 1943, Manfredo was released to the UK, boarding the SS Themistocles on the 2nd December 1943 which sailed via Wellington NZ, Panama, Jamaica and New York. The ship arrived in Cardiff, Wales on the 14th February 1944. The ship’s register noted Manfredo’s address as 177 Sandringham Building, Shaftesbury Avenue, London.
Manfredo was re-interned on the Isle of Man until his release on the 19th April 1944. A notation was made: RA ILB (Italian Labour Battalion?). Manfredo died in 1969.
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