Released to Melbourne

The Service and Casualty Form held in the National Archives of Australia is invaluable in highlighting the journey of each internee from arrival in Melbourne on the Dunera to release from internment. For Giuseppe Zaninetta, this is only part of his journey.

The last line on his form is 'Released to Melbourne'. Further documentation in the archives provides the details of what he did between his release to Melbourne and his departure from Australia.

Experienced in hospitality, on the 1st June 1944, Giuseppe was released on parole for employment as a cook at the Melbourne Club. The Melbourne Club was at the time a high profile private and exclusive gentlemen’s club.

On the 23rd January 1946, Giuseppe boarded the SS Athlone Castle for return to the UK.  He arrived at Southampton, England as a ‘released internee’ on the 28th February 1946. The ship’s register noted his address as 107 Camden Road, London.

Giuseppe was born in Paruzzaro (Novara) Italy on the 20th December 1897.  He was arrested in London, England on the 13th June 1940. His wife Emma Zaninetta was named as his next of kin and she was living in Paruzzaro (Novara) as per his Australian record.  In 1939, Giuseppe (aka Joseph) was living at Flat 6, 14 Great Chapel Street, Soho, London and worked as a waiter. It was also noted on other documents that he was a restauranteur.

In June 1942, after applying to return to the UK to appear before the Italian Advisory Committee, he received notification that the Home Secretary’s decision was that he should not be returned. It would be another two years before he enjoyed life outside the barbed wire, when he was released to Melbourne for employment.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: L. Servini; B. Rabaiotti; R. Radice; A. Ghisoni; A. Albericci; M. Rabaiotti. Front row: P. Belloni; G. Zaninetta; G. Belloni; S. Albericci.