Does anyone know what happened to the Italians living in Sheffield during
WW1 & 2 ? Were they interned for the duration of the war and if so, where?

Len F.

I think the majority were living in leeds and bradford, they came here to work in the brick yards .... i did do some work on the italian diaspra but its a while ago now .... try google

As kids we were told that they built a lot of roads around Sheffield. The type made from stretches of concrete separated by a joint of tar that were prevalent on a lot off the estates.

If you are talking about prisoners of war, I think they were interned at Lodge Moor. At some point they were allowed into the city unescorted, you would see them walking around the Rag and Tag, they wore denim with patches. I'm wondering, did'nt some marry local girls?

i lived at stannington and remember ilTIns qorking










i lived in stannington then and remember them working on a site building prefabs. between siddons quarry and the shops at the top.harrisons.grocers/etc.passed them on my way to school.

There you go again Fleetwood, reminding me of days gone bye. That camp at Lodge Moor, I always thought it was for German POW's. I remember when I was about age 11 or so, a gang of us had gone up to Lodge Moor and walked to Stanedge Pole and fooled around all day on the Edge. On the way back, we were passing the camp, and decided to climb the walls and have a look at the prisoners. So there we were, shouting the usual anti Nazi stuff, giving it the 'Sieg Heil', and all the insults our tiny minds could think of, and suddenly I realised I was on my own up there. I was clinging on to the barbed wire on top of the wall and looking down I saw all my mates were having it away up the road and immediately below me was this Military Police Sergeant. He beckoned me down from the wall with a lot of verbal accompaniment to which I complied.
On reaching the ground he grabbed my ear and marched me toward the main gate. There were a hell of a lot of people there,I remember, I was a bit perturbed to say the least.
Drastic measures were called for. Without a thought for my ear, I pulled away and ran.
Even now I can remember this guys army boots clattering right behind me. I'll say this for him, he lasted a hundred yards or so before I left him behind. I could shift a bit back then, he hadn't a chance really. My ear hurt for days and I was the hero of the hour among my cohorts. Pity they didn't warn me, the b*******.

Does anyone know what happened to the Italians living in Sheffield during
WW1 & 2 ? Were they interned for the duration of the war and if so, where?

Len F.

Hi Len,

An Italian lived on our road and his daughters went to our school (you must remember them) Their Dad was interned for the duration, but do'nt know where

Hi ptrA

Yes I remember the family. I have a group photo with the 2 sisters taken in the Hodkin & Jones air raid shelter on Queens Rd in 1940/42 - it was a Christmas party. I wonder what happened to the family? The name was Del Mistro. I think one of the girls was called Amelia. Len.F

Does anyone know what happened to the Italians living in Sheffield during
WW1 & 2 ? Were they interned for the duration of the war and if so, where?

Len F.

I don't know widespread you mean by Sheffield, but some were in a camp in Treeton, later used as bevin huts for the miners. They were allowed to move freely in the village, some became friends with inhabitants.

Does anyone know what happened to the Italians living in Sheffield during
WW1 & 2 ? Were they interned for the duration of the war and if so, where?

Len F.

The Italians were on our side during WW1, there was a front between Italy and Austria.

Hi ptrA

Yes I remember the family. I have a group photo with the 2 sisters taken in the Hodkin & Jones air raid shelter on Queens Rd in 1940/42 - it was a Christmas party. I wonder what happened to the family? The name was Del Mistro. I think one of the girls was called Amelia. Len.F

The elder sister was Rita. I used to work with her husband Alan. Often went to holiday with family in Italy (1970)

There you go again Fleetwood, reminding me of days gone bye. That camp at Lodge Moor, I always thought it was for German POW's.

It was certainly for German POW's towards the end of the war, but I think Italians were there in 1943-44 (or maybe the camp was in two parts). My German godfather was there from late 1944 until he went home in mid-1948.

The only ones i ever remember seeing loose and free were Italian POWs about 42-43 they would practice their English on us,all the area around Rivlin and whats that area with all the caves,moved to Leicester in46 lots of ex POWs a lot didn't go home (if at all) till 48ish we could see the German POWs through the wire at Lodge Moor I don't believe they was let wander till quite late early 45

I think it was at the end of 1945 (or even a bit later) that the Germans were allowed out of the camp. In December 1946 an announcement in The Star suggested that people might like to invite two German p.o.w.'s for Christmas. My grandfather (who remembered kindnesses shown to Tommies by Germans after the 1918 armistice) wrote to the camp commander, and Karl & Willi duly came for Christmas. Karl Fauser (1914-2002) became such a friend of the family that he was my godfather when I showed up in April 1948. Some of the Germans never went home (especially those from the East, or the Sudetenland) - I know of at least one who became an orderly at Lodge Moor Hospital. The same applied to the Italians, many of whom stayed here. Good blokes in the main, and I think Sheffield is much the richer for the Italians who settled here - whether it be the ice cream makers and organ grinders in the late 19th century or the p.o.w.'s half a century later.

My Gran had an Italian family living with them in Beighton during the war. I think they were moved up from London. She said they had to go to a local hall and choose a family to stay with them. My mum used to work for Molinaries Ice Cream. The family eventually became friendly with the Molinaries. Dont know any more than that.

My mate's mother had an affair with an Italian Prisoner of war who was at the Lodge Moor camp.

We used to follow her to their rendezvous which was in the woods at the back of the S bend at Rivelin.

We were young kids at the time and didn't really know the implications of what we were doing at the time, I don't think we ever saw them do anything.

She eventually had a daughter but we shall never know whether the father was her husband or the Italian.

The war created all sorts of situations and people thought completely different to today and had to adapt to the problems in life.

They are all dead now and so I do not mind writing about it.

Happy days! PopT

Hi ptrA

Yes I remember the family. I have a group photo with the 2 sisters taken in the Hodkin & Jones air raid shelter on Queens Rd in 1940/42 - it was a Christmas party. I wonder what happened to the family? The name was Del Mistro. I think one of the girls was called Amelia. Len.F

Amilia used to go to St Wilfrids school. Very nice looking girl.