Wise decision

Giovanni Biagioni was born in Gallicano (Lucca) Italy on the 1st December 1903. He lived with his wife Ernesta at 101 Beith Street, Glasgow, Scotland and worked as a shop keeper.  He was arrested in Glasgow on the 10th June 1940.

Giovanni and Ernesta (née Bacci) had married in 1927 and in 1935 Giovanni was tenant of properties at 95 Beith Road and 8 Patrick Bridge Street. In 1940, Giovanni was tenant of their home at 101 Beith Street and a shop at 95 Beith Street.

A letter dated 20th December 1941, notified a group of UK internees held in Australia that they MAY  be returned to appear before the Advisory Committee. 

The three Italians were Scotsmen Orlando Ugolini, Ennio Politi and Giovanni Biagioni. Orlando Ugolini died on his return to the UK when the MV Abosso in October 1942 was torpedoed, Ennio Politi arrived in the UK in September 1942 but was reinterned and released to the I.L.B. (Labour Battalion?) in August 1943.

Giovanni chose a different route and chose not to travel at that time.

(NAA: A2908, P22 Part7)

On the 16th May, 1944 Giovanni was ‘released on parole’ to work for the Allied Works Council, signing up for forestry work with the Civil Aliens Corps.

On the 29th March 1945, Giovanni arrived at Liverpool, England on the SS Athlone Castle as a ‘released internee’. He returned to his residence at 101 Beith Street, Glasgow.

Tatura, Australia. January 1943. Group of Italian internees from overseas now interned at Tatura Internment Camp. Back row, left to right: A. Pacitti; V. Bechelli; R. Ciuffardi; R. Mazzolini; C. Pardini; G. Biagioni. Front row: G. Orlandi; C. Barsotti; M. Croci; L. Minchella.

(AWM Image 030188/05 Photographer Colin Halmarick)