Willing to assist allied war efforts...
- Joanne Tapiolas
- Apr 2
- 2 min read
Giovanni Gazzano was born in Carcare (Savona) Italy on the 23rd July 1892. He was a waiter and lived with his wife Giovannina at 12 Hanson Street, Flat 10, London, England when he was arrested on the 11th June 1940.
In July 1942, Giovanni applied to return to the UK to appeal his internment. A letter dated 29th September 1942 noted that Gazzano and other internees may be returned for internment pending consideration of eligibility for released provided they sign declaration that they are willing to assist allied war efforts by undertaking any work of national importance found for them. (NAA: A902, P22 Part10)
On the 27th January 1943, Giovanni was released to Liverpool Camp, NSW to wait departure to the UK. He departed from Sydney, NSW onboard the SS Waroonga on the 29th January 1943.
Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: S. L. Vergano; B. Calderoni; E. Guido; A. Nazzari; G. Gazzano; G. Ferrari. Front row: M. Fagiano; U. Scaravelli; E. Rossi; F. Capra. (AWM Image 030188/07 Photographer Colin Halmarick)
The SS Waroonga was destined for Liverpool, England via Panama and New York, USA. On the 4th April 1943, the SS Waroonga was torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean. Survivors were transferred to SS Joel AR Poinsett and arrived in Londonderry, Ireland on the 9th April 1943. He was transferred to the Isle of Man on the 13th April 1943.
UK Italian internees Giuseppe Crolla, Giovanni Gazzano, and Alessandro Pacitti survived the sinking of the SS Waroonga as did UK German internees Stefan Vajda and Jakob Steinhof. Internees Hans Baer, Louis Biber, Ludwig Gelles, Lazarus Ressler and Max Koenigsberg perished.
Giovanni’s release authorisation on the 23rd July 1943 indicated that he was allocated to work with the ILB (a labour battalion?). It is not known the context of the notation Mr Crane's List, but any information is welcomed.
He died in 1972.
Comments