大象传媒

GIACOMO BELVEDERE, P.O.W. 1941 - 1945

Two years ago enquiries were made about an Italian prisoner-of-war who worked on my wife's parents farm.

A fifty eight year old lady, by the name of Verna, wished to obtain any information available about Giacomo, who worked at The Nutlands Farm, nr. Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire.

Giacomo became a trusted family friend and after the war visited my mother-in-law (Marie Whitehouse) several times. In 1975 my wife and I went to Sicily to visit him and his family. My wife and I were invited to attend his daughter Nella's wedding. Unfortunately it was not possible to attend.

Giacomo had said before leaving England that if it had not been for his ageing parents he would like to settle in England, but had responsibilities at home, a printing business and orange grove. Also he was the only son.

Verna was adopted soon after birth and like most adopted children wanted to find out about her natural parents

She eventually found her birth mother about two and a half years ago, but her mother was reluctant to say very much. She did say that Verna's father was an Italian prisoner-of-war working at The Nutlands Farm in Henley-in-Arden. That was a good start. My wife was about nine at the time and remembers the happy times riding on the tractor with Giacomo.

Through enquiries around Henley Verna eventually got my wife's name and asked for her help. From then on things really got going. My wife, Rosemary, was able to provide lots of information and photos.

Over the last year enquiries through The Red Cross and other records have led to enormous information.

Whilst my wife and I knew the Italian family, Verna was reluctant and apprehensive about making contact. We knew that Giacomo had died about 1986 - his Christmas cards stopped; we phoned Sicily and were told he was asleep. We rang later and were informed that he had died.

With a little encouragement Verna wrote to the son, with no response. She wrote twice more eventually getting an e-mail response from Nella, Giacomo's daughter.

The outcome of this wonderful news was that Nella, who had lost her brother, was the only member of the immediate family left. She is separated, has three sons, and to find out that she has a half sister was wonderful news.

Since then e-mails, phone calls and computer conversations with video link, using MSN Messenger have not stopped

Nella and two of her boys are hoping to visit Verna, and ourselves, in the near future. We are very much looking forward to this.

I do wonder if any readers are in the same position and may now be encouraged to find their families.

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