Button Manufacturer

Santo Corna was born in Palazzolo sull’Oglio (Brescia) Italy on the 3rd July 1912. At the time of his arrest on June 11, 1940, he resided with his wife Luigina at 64 Cherry Tree Walk, Beckenham, Kent, England.

In 1934, Santo had arrived in England and worked for British Button Industries, Penge. He worked in the button industry as a button dye expert, machine operator and button tool maker. He moved to Bertuccioli (Buttons) Limited at Ightham which was owned by Tomaso Bertuccioli who was subsequently interned on the Isle of Man.

In 1939, Santo lived with his wife at Fen Pond Farm House, Malling and four out of the five residents worked at a button factory. His next door neighbour at Fen Pond Cottage was Giuseppe Consoli, also interned in Tatura Camp.

It was noted in his Tatura Camp documents that Santo’s acquaintances in camp were Giuseppe Consoli, Giovanni Tome and Libero Roveta. 

On the 19th December 1944, Santo received news that the Home Secretary would not raise any objections to his return to the UK to appear before the Italian Advisory Committee. He was released from Tatura Camp on the 19th February 1945, boarded the Dominion Monarch on the 4th March 1945 and arrived in Liverpool, England on the 19th April 1945. 

Santo continued his internment until the 21st June 1945. The ship’s register listed his address as 74 Croydon Road, Anerley, London, the same address as was listed by Giuseppe Consoli who had returned to UK in March 1945.