Tennis Court Maintenance Worker

Mario Rabaiotti was born in Bardi (Parma) Italy on the 20th February 1913.  He was arrested on the 10th June 1940 in Swansea, Wales.

His father, deceased, had been resident in Wales for 40 years and Mario arrived in Wales in 1923. He was educated in Italy and Wales, then began working for his father. In 1936, along with his brother Antonio, he established a confectionary and café venture trading as A & M Restaurant, 4 Wine Street, Swansea.  Antonio died in 1940 and with Mario interned in Australia, the owner of the premises re-assumed possession. 

Mario had one brother interned on the Isle of Man and his other brother Bartolomeo was interned in Australia too.

In camp, Mario was involved in the Tennis Court Maintenance Party.  While his brother Bartolomeo was released on parole for work with the Civil Aliens Corps on the 16th May 1944, it wasn't until the 25th July 1944 that Mario was released on parole to join his brother.

On the 6th February 1945, Mario and Bartolomeo together with another 61 UK Italian internees departed Sydney on the SS Athlone Castle.  They disembarked at Liverpool, England on the 29th March 1945. Mario listed his brother’s address 19 Station Road, Llanelly, Wales as his place of residence.

On the 14th November, 1948, Mario died aged 35 in Llanelly, Wales.

(photo from Find A Grave)