Swansea Cafe Proprietor

Antonio Rabaiotti was born in Bardi (Parma) Italy on the 23rd July 1901.  At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940, he was living with his wife Marina and family at 58 St Helen’s Road, Swansea, Wales.

A café proprietor, Antonio had arrived in the UK in 1919 and worked in cafes in Swansea and Milford Haven.  In 1923 he returned to Italy for two years before returning to Milford Haven in 1925 where he was employed in a café.  He opened his own café and confectionary business in 1932 and when he went to Italy in 1936 his wife operated the business.  For one year, Antonio served with the Italian Army Supply Corps, before returning to his business in Wales.

He was released on parole on the 25th July 1944 for work with the Civil Aliens Corps. Of note, both he and Mario Rabaiotti, possibly a relative were released to the Civil Aliens Corps on the same day.

On the 6th March 1945, Antonio boarded the SS Athlone Castle in Sydney, bound for the UK.  He disembarked at Liverpool, England on the 29th March 1945 as a ‘released internee’.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: L. Poggioli; C. Gauna; G. Cocozza; A. Rabaiotti; A. Cavaciuti; C. Bruni. Front row: G. Scola; G. Gamberini; G. Boggio; R. Ferrucci. (AWM Image 030188/04 Photographer Colin Thomas Halmarick)