The camp clothes are not bad...

Michele Coia was born in New Kilpatrick, Dumbartonshire, Scotland on the 8th May 1910. His family came from the Isernia province of Italy.

On the 28th August 1943, Michele applied through the Home Office, London for return to the UK under Category 22 of the White Paper. Though Scottish born, a cable reply from the Home Office, London, clarified his nationality status as Italian.  Before Italy entered the war, he had, according to their records, made a valid declaration of alienage and therefore lost his British nationality. He was arrested on the 11th June 1940.

The 1940 Valuation Rolls documented that Linda Coia, confectioner operated her shop at 419 Govan Road and from the same address, Michele Coia, a confectioner, leased the machinery at 419 Govan Road. For his Australian documents he listed his sister Linda Coia living at 12 Copeland Road, Glasgow as his next of kin.

Michele had only visited Italy once, when he was taken to Italy as a boy from 1920-1922 and at the time of his internment, he could not speak Italian. He was a quiet industrious worker in the carpentry party and was friends with Amilcare Cima.

A letter to his sister written on the 30th April 1943 offers an insight into camp life, finances and clothing. Michele wrote: The camp clothes are not bad, but you can’t pick and choose, they are all small stuff and you have to renovate them, they don’t last long, even the boots are nothing special, the only thing is the underwear, they are new and I have to pay for them when I want them, as I have over £5 in the bank. (NAA: A367, C76031)

On the 7th April 1944, Michele wrote to his sister Linda about the possibility of remaining in Australia. He wrote: I hope soon to be out working, when the day comes I will let you know as soon as I can.  Another thing the climate here is very agreeable and I have never felt better in my life before as I do now in Australia so you can get the idea that my plans are that given an opportunity to stay here, I will certainly take it, and you can be sure that I will do my utmost to make good. (NAA: A367, C76031)

On the 16th May 1944, Michele enrolled in the Civil Aliens Corps for work in forestry at Peechelba, Victoria.  On the 22nd August 1945, Michele was released for transfer to Sydney to embark the SS Mauretania which arrived in Liverpool England on the 24th September 1945. He arrived in England as a ‘released internee’. The ship’s register recorded his address as 419 Govan Road, Glasgow.

Michele died in 1971 in Renfrew, Scotland.