The long way home

Antonio Sidoli was born in the province of Parma, Italy on the 22nd April 1895.  His British record noted his place of birth as Valmozzola and his Australia record Marigno.  A shopkeeper, he lived with his wife Celestina at 6 Inverness Street, Camden Town, London, England. Antonio had two sons and one daughter.

The only statement of note on his Australia record was that he was sent to the Mooroopna Hospital, Victoria from the 17th to the 19th April 1943.

While he was notified of permission for him to return to the UK to appear before the Advisory Committee on the 17th May 1943, his decision was that he was not willing at the time to make the voyage. Weighing heavy on his mind would have been the sinking of the MV Abosso when six UK Italians died and the sinking of the Waroonga without loss of life for the UK Italians. None-the-less the precariousness of travel and the experience of surviving the sinking of the Arandora Star, would have helped form his decision.

On the 30th November 1943, Antonio was released for the voyage to the UK.  He boarded the SS Themistocles on the 2nd December 1943 with 12 other UK Italian internees.  The ship sailed via Wellington NZ, Panama, Kingston, Jamaica and New York, USA arriving in Cardiff, Wales on 14th February 1944.

Antonio was re-interned on the Isle of Man until the 12th May 1944 when he was released to ILB (Labour Battalion?)

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: D. Accini; P. Mariutto; C. Casali; V. Gallinari; R. Freppoli; M. Pini. Front row: P. Strina; Gio. Moruzzi; V. Corinti; A. Sidoli.