Early Years:

Belgio Manca was born on 20th September 1921 in Genoa, Italy of Sardinian parents. His father, a mariner, died from tetanus when Belgio was seven years old, leaving him very few opportunities to be educated. He was sent to a convent until he was twelve years old.

Life as a Ship's Hand:

Belgio then began his working life as a ship's hand on the SS Esquilino, an Italian passenger ship that made regular journeys to Australia as an Italian migrant ship. He deserted in Syedney in early 1940, in Sydney due to constant bullying by one of the Esquilino's officers. Belgio left the ship with only the clothes he was wearing, in the company of a migrant who had travelled to Sydney on a return trip to his farm in North Ryde.

World War II Internment:

A farmer from Calabria, Italy, hid Belgio on his potato farm, until he was arrested on 26 June 1940, along with the family's three adult men. Belgio was interned from June 1940 to 1944 at the following locations: Long Bay Gaol, Orange and Hay in New South Wales. He was transferred to Loveday Internment Camp 9 at Barmera in South Australia in June 1941. On Belgio's 'Property Statement - Prisoner of War' he states: 'At the time of my arrest I had nothing. I never (had) anything not in Australia and not anywhere else. So I have nothing to declare.'

Loveday Internment Camp South Australia:

It was in Camp 9 that Belgio made many silver rings from silver coins and artefacts such as a chess set from local wood for the Australian internment camp guards in exchange for goods or money. After the Italian Armistice in June 1943, Italian internees were gradually released to work in the Civilian Aliens Corps, Allied Works or Manpower paroled positions under War Cabinet orders to support the nation's war effort.

A Precious Bracelet:

Belgio was transferred to camp 14D in late 1943 until August 1944. Two weeks before his release, Belgio was given an unfinished hand-made, silver and tortoise shell inlay bracelet by a fellow internee from Victoria who was being released from Camp 14D. The unnamed internee was from Melbourne, but Belgio did not know his name. He recalls the man by sight as he had spoken to him only a few times in the camp. The unknown Victorian internee told Belgio to finish the bracelet as he was going home.

There were about 100 Italians from Victoria who were interned at Loveday. Belgio describes the bracelet maker as a speaker of educated Italian with dark hair and features. They were destined never to meet again.

Civilian Alien Corps:

Belgio was released on conditional parole to the Civilian Alien Corps on 24 August 1944 to work in a college kitchen in Sydney awaiting further orders from the Allied Works Department. On the 5 May 1945, he was deployed to Wandong in central Victoria under orders to the Victorian Forestry Commission to cut wood for the government until 20 November 1945 when he was released to return to Sydney under strict parole conditions.

Search for the Bracelet Maker:

Whilst at Wandong, Belgio rode to Melbourne on a Sunday to search for the bracelet's maker to return the item to him. Even though he knocked on many Italian ex-internee doors, no one knew who the bracelet maker was.

Belgio would marry, have children and settle in South Australia. At 94 years old, he was living an active life with his wife in Adelaide, and still had a wish to return the bracelet to its rightful owner. He died on 9 April 2015. The mystery of the Italian internee bracelet maker from Victoria may never be solved.

References:
Interview with Belgio & Robert Manca, Adelaide, January, 2014 National Archives Australia: SP11/2, Italian/Manca, MP1103/1, PWN9257 NAA Photographs - Belgio Manca after capture in North Ryde, Sydney in 1940

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