Quiet, industrious and sincere

Guido Galbiati was born in Garbagnate (Milano) Italy on 4th January 1897.  He was arrested in London on the 11th June 1940.  He had worked as a waiter at the Barkley Restaurant, Piccadilly, London from 1923 – 1940. He named his mother Maria Galbiati of Garbagnate, Italy as his next of kin.

He was a member of the Committee of the Italian Returned Soldiers Association and like many of the Italians in the United Kingdom in his age bracket had served in the Italian army from 1916-1920.

His Tatura Camp records noted that he was quiet, industrious and sincere.  Guido worked in the camp kitchen as a mess orderly and also worked in the garden party.  His friends in camp were Pietro Gallo, Ugo Giovine and Armando Bertuzzi.

On the 16th May 1944, he was ‘released on parole’ for work with the Civil Aliens Corps in forestry.

Guido returned to England as an ex-internee on the Nieuw Amsterdam embarking on the 7th July 1945.  The ship docked in Liverpool, England on the 21st August 1945. The ship’s register noted his address as 5 Dulverton Mansions, Grays Inns Road, London.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: G. Galbiati; U. Giovine; G. Berni; P. Beschizza; N. Cua; F. Amato. Front row: G. Cua; E. Simonelli; G. Guarnieri; P. Tolaini. (AWM Image 030188/10 Photographer Colin Halmarick)