Luigi CASADIO
Born 26 August 1912 in Lugo, Ravenna, Italy [P396]
Son of Celso CASADIO and Santa Luigia PILANI [P396]
He grew up in Lugo and studied at a professional secondary school as a mechanic[P396]
His father was a writer and journalist, and was also clerk of the local Fascist Trade Union of Porters [P396]
His mother was a stall keeper at the local market in Lugo, and in the mid 1930s he worked as a hawker but with poor success [P396]
In March 1936 he applied to be a colonial worker in Africa and was accepted in the army after a period of training [P396]
Italy annexed the Ethiopian Empire and it was merged with Italy's Eritrea and Somaliland to become Italian East Africa in 1936 [P396]
Along with thousands of other workers and soldiers he departed Italy for Africa by steamship on 6 June 1936 [P396]
He worked in Africa and in letters back to Italy revealed life was harsh and far from the regime's promises and aspirations [P396]
In 1938 he is believed to have briefly visited Italy before returning to Italian East Africa that same year [P396]
Returned to Italy for Christmas in 1939 and on 6 February 1940 he married Bruna FANTUCCI [P396]
After Italy joined the Second World War he was sent back to Africa with the military militia Camicia Nera, "The Blackshirts" [P396]
Private in the 81st Battalion of The Blackshirts until being captured at Sidi Barani in Egypt on 11 December 1940 [30: item 9931740]
The destroyed Blackshirts had suffered heavy casualties due to being undermanned, underequipped and undertrained [P396]
As a Prisoner of War he was later sent by the British to Prisoner of War camp number three in Bombay, India [P396]
His family last heard from him with a message dated 22 November 1944 from Bangalore, India stating he was in good health [P396]
As a Prisoner of War he departed Bombay, India and arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 13 February 1945 [30: item 9931740]
In Australia his identification number was PWIX 67603 - PW standing for Prisoner of War, I for Italian and X for Fascist [24]
Following his arrival he was sent to Western Australia, being interned at Karrakatta in Perth on 24 February 1945 [30: item 8642727]
He was administered by Prisoner of War Camp Number 16 at Marrinup southeast of Pinjarra and northwest of Dwellingup [30]
He was sent to Three Springs on 10 April 1945 and worked on the farm of DURACK Bros in Arrino [24] [30: item 8642727]
At the age of 33, and the day after the Second World War ended, he hanged himself on DURACK Bros' farm in Arrino [30: item 8642727]
Died 23 August 1945 in Arrino; buried Three Springs General Cemetery, Three Springs (Roman Catholic, Plot 43) [24]
His family, who hadn't heard from him since he was in India, received a telegram on 10 October 1945 advising them of his death [P396]
His wife Bruna continued to live in his native town of Lugo in Ravenna, Italy until her death at the age of 78 on 3 April 1989 [P396]
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Luigi Casadio' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 18 November 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/luigi-casadio [reference list] |
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