Loveday – Part 4 – Camp 10

The Loveday Internment Camp complex was the largest construction of its type in Australia, and the only purpose-built World War II internment facility in South Australia. It comprised a garrison barracks and administration building, camps 9, 10 and 14; a piggery and other farming facilities, and included three woodcutting camps at Katarapko, Woolenook Bend and Moorook West.[1] Other Internment facilities were a temporary facility at Keswick Army Barracks in 1939/40. Gladstone Gaol was used for Italian detainees, who worked forestry jobs at Wirrabara and Bundaleer. There was also a temporary internment camp at Sandy Creek that housed Italian detainees who worked on farms in the Adelaide Hills. Before this, the camp had been constructed to house American troops. A section of fence from this camp still exists on Williamstown Road.[2]

Camp 10, accepted detainees from, June 1941 until January 1944, when all detainees were transferred to camp 14. At the end of the war, most of the structures at the camp were sold and relocated, however, the camp 10 cell block remains in situ. The cell block was built originally as a two-cell facility but was later expanded to six cells. Detainees housed here were for crimes inside the camps, such as espionage, physical violence against other inmates, disobedience, and escape attempts. Australian soldiers with the 25/23 Garrison Battalion, due for court-martial hearings also spent time in these buildings. (One, who worked in the mail room, was accused of opening Red Cross packages sent to detainees and stealing their cigarettes.)[3] These three detained Australian soldiers inscribed their names on the cell’s walls.[4]

Camp 10 was officially closed on 9 January 1944. It was then converted to a Detail Issue Depot (DID). DIDs were used for storing and distributing basic supplies to the various camps.[5] The camp was closed in 1946, and individual campsites were sold as properties. In 1947, the piggeries and 43 acres of land were sold to ex-servicemen.[6]

In 1989, The General Headquarters site at Loveday Internment Camp Complex was entered into the South Australian Heritage Register. In 1991, an archaeological survey was conducted at the location. The Loveday Internment Camp Committee is investigating the potential of turning the former cell block into a tourist attraction.[7]

 

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024

[1] Camp 10 Detention Cell Block – Loveday Internment Camp Complex., Department of Environment and Water, (2020), p. 14.
[2] Ibid., pp. 2-3.
[3] 'Prisoners' Camp Allegations', News, (28 April 1944), p. 3.
[4] Camp 10 Detention Cell Block – Loveday Internment Camp Complex., Department of Environment and Water, (2020), p. 19-20.
[5] The Details Issue Depot, Australian War Memorial, (2023), https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/ART21450.
[6] 'Loveday Camp Closing', The Advertiser, (21 January 1947), p. 2.
[7] Loveday Internment Camp, Berri Barmera Council, (March 2023), https://lovedayinternmentcamp.au/.

Loveday – Part 3: Tunnel

Loveday – Part 3: Tunnel

Barmera, South Australia. 1943-03-11/17. Detention cells of the 10th Australian prisoner of war and internment camp, loveday group. (Australian War Memorial)

Loveday internment camp had many escape attempts, the most notable being a tunnel dug from under a tent near a permitter fence, which came out on the other side of the barbwire fence, hidden by a bush.
The tunnel was deep enough underground that trucks passing over the top on the road did not collapse it. To get around the large amounts of dirt being pulled from the tunnel excavation, prisoners asked for permission to make a mud brick hut, which was granted. Surprisingly, no officers questioned where the dirt was coming from.

Internees used kitchen knives to dig the tunnels, and handkerchiefs to cart the dirt from the tunnel. The dirt that wasn’t used for mud bricks was spread around the camp day and night, without soldiers guarding the camp realising.

On 30 April 1942 three internees reported to a guard that they believed there would be a mass escape that evening. The three men were removed from the camp for their own safety. An inspection of the entirety of Camp 10 revealed the tunnel. It was believed that within a few hours of the report to the guard, the tunnel would have been big enough for the escape of hundreds of detainees. Soldiers filled the tunnel with water and collapsed it to prevent escapes and seal the exit route.[1]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024

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[1] Max Scholz, ‘As I Remember: The Loveday Interment Camp,’ (Barmera, 2004), pp. 32-33. ; 'Last Prisoners Have Left Loveday', Murray Pioneer, (23 January 1947), p. 1.

Loveday – Part 2: The Murder of Francesco Fantin

 Loveday – Part 2: 

The Murder of Francesco Fantin

Portrait of Francesco G. Fantin 1920 [SLSA: B 75173]

 The Italian antifascist internees in Loveday organised a money-raising event called ‘Sheepskins for Russia’, which was associated with the defence of Stalingrad, Francesco Fantin was heavily involved in this campaign, which provoked the fascists in the camp.
A newspaper arrived in the camp on November 16 1942, dated two days earlier, that referred, by name, to some of the Loveday internees who had helped raise money for Russia. This led to anger within the fascist factions, and during a dinner discussion, it was agreed the fascists should be killed as traitors.[1]

Around 6:30 pm, on the 16^th of November 1942, Giovanni Bruno Casotti, who had arrived at the South Australia camp only two weeks prior from Western Australia, approached Fantin from behind. Fantin was standing at a drinking tap, Casotti struck Fantin from behind with a large piece of wood. Fantin fell, and as he did, Casotti kicked him in the groin and head.
Fantin was carried to his bunk in his tent. Fascist and camp leader, Dr Piscitelli was called to attend. Pisctelli was not willing to treat Fantin, so Fantin was taken to the base hospital where he was attended by Dr Adriano Mugga. Mugga stated that Fantin’s neck was broken, his skull fractured, and several ribs cracked. The military base doctor, Dr. Luke Verco was called to attend. Dr Verco stated that Fantin had a cerebral haemorrhage, caused by the fractured skull, and had Fantin moved to the Barmera Base Hospital, where Fantin would die of his injuries that night at 10:25 pm.[2]

Witness recollections of the event differ between fascist and anti-fascist accounts. The fascists claimed that on the evening of the event, Casotti had met Fantin between Huts 3 and 4, when Fantin called to him. Casotti claimed that Fantin was happy that Italians were dying in the war and that all the fascists were being killed. Casotti then claimed that Fantin had started insulting his family, so he pushed Fantin, with both his hands on Fantin’s chest. As Fantin fell, his head hit the water tap, and this is what caused his injuries.
Casotti’s version of events was supported by most internees in the camp. The majority being fascists.

The anti-fascist version of events included witness accounts from Augusto Pretti, who claimed he saw Casotti strike Fantin with a piece of 3x2x2 wood on the head, then hit him in the ribs with the same piece of timber. Pretti claimed that Casotti then began kicking Fantin.[3]
Domenico Franchici stated that he, and others, say Casotti hit Fantin in the head with the wood, kick him over the heart; on the ribs, and groin and private parts.[4]
Most antifascist internees were too terrified to speak out, as they believed they would meet the same fate.

Casotti was charged with manslaughter, but his case was deferred while more evidence was collected. When the court resumed Crown Prosecutor, Mr Chamberlain claimed that his new evidence would prove Casotti murdered Fantin.[5]
K.H. Kirkman, the Deputy Director of Security in South Australia and Master of the Supreme Court became involved. The correspondence began with the Director of General Security, Brigadier General W.B. Simpson in Canberra. It was decided that the murder charge should not be pursued in the courts as it would bring protests and further complications for the military and the camp.[6]

The trial resumed on March 16 1943, with Casotti found guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to two years hard labour at Yatala Labor Prison.[7]

Francesco Fantin became a martyr for the anti-fascist movement in Australia. After his death, Australian anarchists, anti-fascists and communists protested his murder. Joan Finger of the Political Rights Committee campaigned that maladministration at the Loveday camp and a military coverup had occurred. The North Queensland Guardian, a communist newspaper, declared that no antifascist should be in internment camps.[8]

 

A bi-lingual theatre production, written by Teresa Crea, titled ‘Red Like the Devil’, about Fantin’s life and murder, was performed at the Loveday internment camp where Fantin was attacked. The play opened at the Playhouse Theatre in Adelaide on October 29, 1991, and was presented by Doppio Teatro.[9]

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024


[1] Paul Nursey-Bray, 'Anti-Fascism and Internment: The Case of Francesco Fantin,' Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia, Number 17, (1989), pp. 88-111.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Tommy Lawson, ‘Francesco Fantin, Italian Anarchism and Anti-Fascism in Australia’, lib.com, (2022), https://libcom.org/article/francesco-fantin-italian-anarchism-and-anti-fascism-australia.
[4] Statement made by Mumu Augusto Pretti to Sgt R. De Rosa, A.A. (A.C.T ). C.R.S. A373, Item: Box 21, 10913.
[5] 'FATAL FACTION QUARREL', The Advertiser, (17 March 1943), p. 6.
[6] Nursey-Bray, 'Anti-Fascism and Internment,' Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia, pp. 88-111.
[7] 'TWO YEARS HARD LABOUR FOR INTERNEE', Murray Pioneer, (1 April 1943), p. 1.
[8] Nursey-Bray, 'Anti-Fascism and Internment.' Journal of the Historical Society of South Australia, pp. 88-111.
[9] Gordon Sheldon, 'No title', The Canberra Times, (17 October 1991), p. 13.

Loveday – Part 1: The Murder of Francesco Fantin

 Loveday – Part 1: 

The Murder of Francesco Fantin

 

 

In December 1942, The Sydney Tribune ran the headline ‘ANTI-FACIST MURDERED: Political Terrorism in S.A.’  World War II was raging, and in Australia, Japanese, Germans and Italian people had been segregated into internment camps with many arriving in the South Australian outback camp, Loveday, the largest camp of its kind in Australia.

Loveday was established in 1941, near Bamera, holding over 5000 internees, and 1500 staff comprised from the Australian Military Forces. It also held, at times, Prisoners of War. The camp was established by the Australian government to hold people it labelled ‘enemy aliens,’ typically, these were people from countries that Australia and its allies had declared war against.
 According to the Loveday Lives website, of 15000 internees across the group of camps during its usages, 7000 were in Australia at the outbreak of the war, and 8000 were transported from the United Kingdom and Dutch East Indies through arrangements by their government.[1]

 In June 1941 the 4^th Garrison Battalion arrived at Loveday to begin Guard duty. Later that month the first internees, a group of 458 Italians arrived at the camp from Hay in New South Wales.  In August 1941, the first international internees arrived, sent from Britain after the fall of France. The first Japanese internees arrived from the Northern Territory in January 1942, with Germans and more Italians arriving the same month.
In 1943, the camp reached 5382 internees. The camp closed in 1946 – for more information about the history of the camp and a timeline of significant events please visit: https://lovedaylives.com/

 

One internee at Loveday was Italian, Francesco Fantin. Fantin was born in San Vito di Leguzzano in North Italy in 1901. Fantin was a textile worker in Italy. The rise of Fascism in Italy saw Fantin become an anarchist and political militant. Fantin left Italy in 1927, arriving in Melbourne, before moving to Queensland where his brothers, Luigi and Alfonso had a cane farm at Sawmill Pocket, Edmonton.

In the 1930s, Fantin moved to Victoria, where he became active in the Labour and anti-fascist movements. He became a correspondent for the anti-fascist newspaper La Risoccossa. Fantin was arrested by Australian authorities in 1940 as a fascist. He appealed the decision but lost, and was sent to Loveday Internment Camp 14A at Barmera. Unlike other internment camps, Loveday separated internees by nationality, not political affiliation, which led to a political divide between those detained. Fantin stood with the anti-fascists and became a political leader, which led to constant harassment, abuse, and assault from fascist detainees.[2] Another detainee entered Fantin's tent and beat him senseless. Fantin reported the assault, but the authorities would not get involved.

 In 1942, near sunset, on November 16, Fantin was drinking from a water tap. He was alone when fascist supporter, Giovanni Bruno Casotti, a detainee who had arrived only two weeks prior from Western Australia, assaulted him. There are two versions of events, which I will discuss in part two.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2024

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[1] ‘History’, Loveday Lives, (2023),  https://lovedaylives.com/history/.

[2] Paul Nursey-Bray, 'Fantin, Francesco Giovanni (Frank) (1901–1942)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/fantin-francesco-giovanni-frank-12912/text23327.

Terowie Train Station - Hidden Secrets

Terowie Train Station - Hidden Secrets

<Begin Transcript> 

The mid-north town of Terowie sits 220 kilometres north of Adelaide, in South Australia. It is an important landmark town in the state for its many historical buildings. Terowie Train Station opened in 1880 when the broad-gauge railway line from Adelaide reached the town. The first train arrived on December 14, 1880, carrying Sir William Jervois, Governor of South Australia
 Not long after, a narrow-gauge line from nearby Peterborough was extended to Terowie station. Terowie railway station, from then on, was used to unload goods from the broad-gauge line, onto trains on the narrow-gauge line, to move goods through the state, and interstate.

 The Adelaide to Red Hill railway line was extended to Port Pirie in 1937, taking away some of Terowie’s train traffic.  When Leigh Creek Coalfields opened, traffic through Terowie increased again, but this line was soon made obsolete with a new Stirling to Maree line opening in 1957. The Port Augusta to Broken Hill line was converted to a standard gauge, which saw railway lines north of Terowie converted to broad gauge in1970, making Peterborough the breakpoint of gauges and rendering Terowie obsolete.

During World War Two. A large military camp was established close the railway station, enabling the military to move troops and ammunition swiftly across Australia to wherever needed. The break of gauge at Terowie meant that the town was vital for the Silverton to Burra, Adelaide to Perth and Adelaide to Alice Springs routes. During the War, all north-bound men and goods were transhipped at Terowie.

While changing trains on the 20^th of March 1942 at Terowie U.S. General MacArthur made a speech about the Battle of The Philippines, in which he said:. “I came out of Bataan and I shall return”.

The Terowie line was reduced to a crossing loop with the line closing in July 1988,

Today Terowie is a historical town much loved by its residents. The train station stands as a monument to the railway workers that opened up the outback to exploration, commerce and tourism. <End Transcript>

Researched by Allen Tiller

Beachport: Casualties of War

Beachport: Casualties of War

We think of you in silence.

With a heart that is sincere.

And cherish all the memories

Of the days when you were here.

The 19th of February 1942, the Japanese bombed Darwin, the first attack on the Australian mainland by a foreign invader in a major global conflict. The two air raids on Darwin killed 235 people with a further 300 to 400 wounded.

7^th months earlier, in the southern coastal town of Beachport, South Australia, two other deaths, directly associated with the war occurred on the 14^th of July 1941. The deaths of Able Seaman W.L. Danswan and Seaman T.W. Todd of the Royal Australian Navy.

 Sea mines, laid by the enemy, had begun to be found along the shipping routes of South Australia’s southern coast, with two sea mines found previously to this one. The mine was found 8 miles out at sea from Beachport, by local fisherman, Mr Stephens, who reported the find to the local constable.
 The navy was called, and three men, Lieut. Commander Greening, Able Seaman Danswan and Seaman Todd were sent from Adelaide to defuse or detonate the 4ft diameter iron sea mine.

Photo: An unidentified man standing next to the enemy mine 

which exploded and killed Junee serviceman 

William Danswan, as well as Thomas Todd.

(Source in Bibliography)

The Navy men arrived in Beachport on Sunday the 13^th, and with the help of four local fisher boats, headed out to sea to tow the mine back to the shore and examine it. On Monday the 14^th the mine was pulled ashore at Beachport for dismantling, but instead, it was decided that it would be easier to blow it up, so the mine was pulled across the bay by a boat, and taken ashore near an old piling to be destroyed.
 A demolition charge was connected to the mine, with a mile of cable ran out towards the cemetery, over a railway line, to ensure the safety of the 3 navy men. They pushed the plunger to detonate the mine, but it didn’t work, so a second line of cable was run out. This time, as the plunger was pushed, a passing railway truck disconnected the cable, and again the bomb did not explode.

The two Seamen waited 15 minutes, and made their way down to inspect the mine. They got within a few feet of it when it suddenly exploded, killing them almost instantly. Their Lieut. Commander, who had not descended the sand dunes, remained unharmed.
 Many locals, standing on the local jetty and beach front witnessed the large explosion and death of the Seamen, and many more came out to see what was going on after hearing the concussive blast of the detonation.,

 Able Seaman W.L.E. Danswan, who was from the town of Junee in New South Wales, was transferred from the H.M.A.S. Canberra to the Birkenhead Naval Base only 4 months previously. He left behind a widow.

Seaman T.W. Todd, who was from Rosewater, S.A. left behind a wife, Gwendoline Todd, and a young son, Ronald.

A monument to the men, the first two casualties on Australian soil of World War Two, stands at the eastern end of the surf beach carpark on the Millicent-Beachport road

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

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Bibliography:

1941 'MILLICENT NEWS.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 25 July, p. 6. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167770740

1941 'MINE EXPLOSION AT BEACHPORT.', The South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 - 1954), 18 July, p. 2. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200099123

1941 'No Title', The South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 - 1954), 22 July, p. 1. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200099143

1949 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 14 July, p. 14. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36675976

National Archives of Australia, 2018, The bombing of Darwin – Fact sheet 195, National Archives of Australia, Australian Government, viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs195.aspx

Source: https://www.juneesoutherncross.com.au/story/4601686/junee-servicemans-tragic-wwii-demise-photos/#slide