Returned 1941

During 1941, only 14 UK Italians departed Australia for return to the UK. Antonio Dallanegra was one of the lucky few.

Antonio Dallanegra was born in Bardi (Parma) Italy on the 24th September 1902.  He lived at 12 James Street, Ebbw Vale, Wales when he was arrested on the 10th June 1940.  His occupation was café proprietor/fish and chips café. In 1925 he married Gwyneth Morgans and they had two sons Anthony and Enrico Paul.

Antonio’s time in Australia was brief and Tatura Camps 2B and 4B were the camps where he was held.  He arrived on the 3rd September 1940 and on the 5th October 1941 he departed Tatura Camp for Liverpool Camp, NSW until his embarkation on the Stirling Castle on the 13th October 1941.  The voyage was to take the ten UK Italian internees onboard to Aukland, New Zealand, Cristobal, Panama and Liverpool, England.  The Stirling Castle docked in Liverpool on the 28th November 1941.

He was re-interned until the 6th February 1942 when he was released under Category 22 of the White Paper: Category 22. Any person as to whom the Tribunal, appointed by the Secretary of State, reported that he had, since childhood or for at least 20 years, lived continuously or almost continuously in Great Britain; had long severed connections with his country of nationality; that his associations and interests were British; and that he was friendly towards this country. (White Paper, Civilian Internees of Enemy Nationality, Home Office)

Antonio’s family donated notes to the Tatura Museum from his diary regarding the sinking of the Arandora Star, the Dunera Voyage and his arrival in Tatura Camp No. 2.

Antonio died in Ebbw Vale, Wales in 1968.

Diary Extract: Antonio Dallanegra

(Victorian Collections)