Myrtleford Prisoner of War Camp #5 - at East Whorouly
Camp Opening - late 1942
Panoramic view from a hill of No. 5 Prisoner of War (POW) Camp.
Note the sentry box in the foreground looking over a number of buildings.
This is quite soon after the Camp opened. Note the number of tents. This period lasted for 7 months, until Engineering Services, Dept. of Army, built the blocks of huts.
Note the sentry box in the foreground looking over a number of buildings.
This is quite soon after the Camp opened. Note the number of tents. This period lasted for 7 months, until Engineering Services, Dept. of Army, built the blocks of huts.
Prisoners arriving at Camp
All prisoners at the Camp were Italian, captured during the North African campaign.
These men mainly, arrived by boat to Sydney, then came by train to Gapsted Railway Station, where they were marched into the Camp.
Over 80% of them were Officers.
Prisoners were shipped over the period May 1941 to February 1945 to Australia.
From Egypt 1941 – 6 shipments of 561 Officers & 4,396 other ranks.
From India 1943/45 – 8 shipments of 20 Officers & 10,120 other ranks.
From India 1945 – selected from 7,000 alleged Fascists – 2 shipments totalling 3,067.
Also, 268 Merchant Seamen, making a Grand Total of 18,432.
Nearly 1,000 came to Myrtleford #5 POW Camp.
From Egypt 1941 – 6 shipments of 561 Officers & 4,396 other ranks.
From India 1943/45 – 8 shipments of 20 Officers & 10,120 other ranks.
From India 1945 – selected from 7,000 alleged Fascists – 2 shipments totalling 3,067.
Also, 268 Merchant Seamen, making a Grand Total of 18,432.
Nearly 1,000 came to Myrtleford #5 POW Camp.
Garrison Guard
PARADE OF THE LARGEST MEN IN THE 51st AUSTRALIAN GARRISON COMPANY PRISONER OF WAR CAMP, WITH THE SMALLEST IN CHARGE.
LEFT TO RIGHT:- V17062 PRIVATE J.H. SHALE; V147986 PRIVATE C.K. JENSEN; V18036 PRIVATE J. HEALY; V145687 PRIVATE H. OWEN; V146190 LANCE CORPORAL T.H. WILLIAMSON.
MOST OF THE GARRISON WERE WW1 VETERANS, OR RETURNED WW2 SERVICEMEN.
POW Officer's Mess
INTERIOR OF PRISONER OF WAR OFFICERS' MESS IN "A" COMPOUND 51st AUSTRALIAN GARRISON COMPANY PRISONER OF WAR CAMP WITH ITALIAN POW ORDERLIES AT THE TABLES.
(WHY WERE ‘OTHER RANKS’ NEEDED AT THIS POW CAMP?)
Remnants of Amenities Block
This all that is left from the original Amenities block.
It is believed that the pine/cypress trees at the rear on the hill, along with fruit trees, were planted by the prisoners.
Camp Hospital
79th AUSTRALIAN CAMP HOSPITAL AT THE 51st AUSTRALIAN GARRISON COMPANY PRISONER OF WAR CAMP.
Escapes were rare.
This the original Detention cells, outside the Compound.
On November 27, 1944 a parole walk of 50 POW officers and two guides was conducted along the Wangaratta road. On return two hours later, Lt. Arnaldo Gatti, his son Luciano and one of the guides, Ugo Barone, were missing. All three were recaptured three days later in a pine plantation near Myrtleford. Items in their haversacks included two rabbit traps, a book on snakes, Kiwi boot polish, tins of Kraft cheese, two packs of cards, an English-Italian dictionary and eleven packets of vegetable seeds. Each received 28 days’ detention.
Land Soldiers
Letters from Italy were often up to two years late in arriving in Australia, knowledge of the fate of families unknown, and POWs often thought of themselves as forgotten men. Therefore, the opportunity to work outdoors with civilians, outside the barbed wire of Myrtleford Camp, brought them nearer to a ‘normal’ life.
Myrtleford Camp POWs commenced working on local farms in June-July, 1944. At that time, work included picking potatoes, harvesting wheat, hay carting and dairying. Prisoners were released at a fixed time each morning, to return to camp at a prescribed hour. The pay rate was £1 ($2) per week, of which only 1s. 3d. (15cents) was allowed to the worker.
The photo above is an informal portrait of two Italian POWs on the Kurrle farm at Korumburra with Lynette and Frank Kurrle, with the model house just after it had been presented to the children. The man holding Frank Kurrle is the model maker, Adolfo Allario. The children are dressed in their Sunday best and have just returned from church; Sunday was also the day on which prisoners were allowed to visit other prisoners.
Myrtleford Camp POWs commenced working on local farms in June-July, 1944. At that time, work included picking potatoes, harvesting wheat, hay carting and dairying. Prisoners were released at a fixed time each morning, to return to camp at a prescribed hour. The pay rate was £1 ($2) per week, of which only 1s. 3d. (15cents) was allowed to the worker.
The photo above is an informal portrait of two Italian POWs on the Kurrle farm at Korumburra with Lynette and Frank Kurrle, with the model house just after it had been presented to the children. The man holding Frank Kurrle is the model maker, Adolfo Allario. The children are dressed in their Sunday best and have just returned from church; Sunday was also the day on which prisoners were allowed to visit other prisoners.
In November 1943, due to much angst by the POWs, that their families did not know whether they were safe or not, or indeed, alive, the Department of Defense commissioned a photographer to document all prisoners, which were sent via the Red Cross, to Italy.
The Myrtleford & District Historical Soc. inc. has copies of these photographs, with all names.
A sample Officer's Photograph A sample Other Ranks photograph
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Back row, left to right: Castigli; Grazioli; Vagnini; Crita; Conti; Poggioli.
Front row: Gardenghi; Broge; Moltolese; De Nicola; Ferrari; Smeraldi. |
Left to right: Scaffidi; Mandala; Viezzoli; Francini; Barbaro; De Palma.
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Camp Closure
The end of hostilities in Europe both cheered and unsettled Italian POWs. Those out on farm work were keen to return to camp, as they thought camp residents would receive first consideration for repatriation.
The official end to the war in Europe on May 8, 1945 caused Capt. Gianpaolo Cicero, after four years at Myrtleford Camp, to ask for permission to join the Foreign Legion and fight the Japanese. Lt. Edgardo Simoni refused to attend the Myrtleford VE parade, later asking permission to fight against the Japanese following his country’s declaration of war against Japan.
Lt. Enzo Montalcini spent anxious months awaiting repatriation at Myrtleford. He kept telling himself “Don’t die now, home is not far away.” He and his friends celebrated their departure date by boiling wild rabbits and potatoes and were ill from over-eating.
Source: Alan Fitzgerald, The Italian Farming Soldiers
The Camp was finally closed in October 1946.
The official end to the war in Europe on May 8, 1945 caused Capt. Gianpaolo Cicero, after four years at Myrtleford Camp, to ask for permission to join the Foreign Legion and fight the Japanese. Lt. Edgardo Simoni refused to attend the Myrtleford VE parade, later asking permission to fight against the Japanese following his country’s declaration of war against Japan.
Lt. Enzo Montalcini spent anxious months awaiting repatriation at Myrtleford. He kept telling himself “Don’t die now, home is not far away.” He and his friends celebrated their departure date by boiling wild rabbits and potatoes and were ill from over-eating.
Source: Alan Fitzgerald, The Italian Farming Soldiers
The Camp was finally closed in October 1946.
Today, the area has reverted to its original use – grazing land for stock.
The hills surrounding the Camp have been denuded of trees, to supply timber for the kitchen, for heating and for neighbouring farmers.
The site sits on the east side of the Snow Road and few people, of the many thousands who pass by every year, would know of its existence.
The hills surrounding the Camp have been denuded of trees, to supply timber for the kitchen, for heating and for neighbouring farmers.
The site sits on the east side of the Snow Road and few people, of the many thousands who pass by every year, would know of its existence.
