Vittorio Bechelli was born in Molazzana (Lucca) Italy on the 3rd September 1899. He listed his sister Aurelia Fagnani of Castlenuova di Garfagnana (Lucca) Italy as his next of kin and he also had two brothers living in Italy.
Vittorio had arrived in the UK in 1913 and worked for his brother-in-law Pietro Poli in Scotland. He returned to Italy in 1917 to serve in the Italian army and due to being wounded had all toes on his right foot amputated.
A return to Scotland in 1921 had him in the employ of Pietro Poli again in Bothwell. Sometime in 1940, he opened a small café in 57 Main Street Holytown. Vittorio was arrested on the 10th June 1940, his occupation on his Australian record was documented as Fish Restauranteur and his private address was 37 Main Street Holytown.
While in Australia, he applied to appear before the Mixed Medical Commission for repatriation to Italy, but his request was denied as was his application to return to the UK to appear before the Italian Advisory Committee.
On the 27th June 1944, Vittorio was released from Tatura Camp to work with the Civil Aliens Corps and documentation had his address as 15 Meer Street Fitzroy, Melbourne with a commencement date of the 13th July 1944 and a work address as Fitzroy Railway Siding (Forests Commission).
On the 22nd August 1945, Vittorio boarded the SS Mauretania in Sydney for his return to the UK as a ‘released internee’. The ship’s register recorded his proposed address as 49 Main Street Holytown, Scotland. The Mauretania arrived at Liverpool, England on the 23rd August 1945.
The above newspaper article in The Motherwell Times, (February 27, 1959) details Bechelli’s family and work life once he returned to Scotland.
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