Repatriated to Italy

Annibale Pieroni was born in Vergemoli (Lucca) Italy on the 1st Mach 1904. At the time of his arrest in Dumfries, Scotland on the 11th June 1940 he was working as a shop assistant. He named his brother Natale who was living at Fornaigi di Barca (Lucca) Italy as his next of kin.

Very little was documented for Annibale during his time in Australia. While other UK Italian internees have an additional file in the archives, there is no such file for Annibale and it is likely that his file was forwarded to England.

What is known is that before his arrival in Scotland in 1921 he worked for his father on the family farm.  Then in 1921 he emigrated to Scotland, first working for Ugo Corrieri as a shop assistant, then as a café proprietor and confectioner.

The only comment made for Annibale was: It is considered that this man is a peasant type with no political ideas, no great loyalties and one who would do whatever he were told. (NAA:MP70/1 37/101/185 Tatura Part 2)

Adding to the mystery of Annibale is that there are no additional notes on his British internment card regarding any application for return to the UK.

On the 1st July 1945, Annibale boarded the Dominion Monarch in Melbourne, for return to the UK.  He was one of six UK Italian internees who were on the ship and have their address registered as c/- Home Office.  Upon arrival at Liverpool, England on the 2nd August 1945, Annibale was re-interned.

On the 12th November 1945, Annibale was one of three Dunera Italian internees who were repatriated to Italy.

If would appear that Annibale returned to Scotland for there is a 1984 death entry for an Annibale Pieroni, aged 80 in Scotland.

Ancestry.com. UK, World War II Alien Internees, 1939-1945 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019.