The Kodja Place Cultural Centre - Kojonup > Records

ITALIAN POW'S WORKING ON MATHWIN'S FARM 1942-44 - part 2

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1942 - 1945

Overview

a)L to R: Nicko, John Mathwin (centre) and Andre - Nicko came from Northern Italy and Andre from Southern Italy. Photo taken in the garden at 'Upwood' Kojonup. The two Italians are dressed in their POW uniforms - all they had. Mrs Mathwin fed them. They lived on the farm and built a shearing shed of mortar and local stone. Italian POW'S provided a significant labour force during World War Two. B) Andre, Nicko (POW'S) John and Dirk Mathwin building the shearing shed. - Andre Bellotti and Nicodema Aillo?) The Italians were good builders. They said they would come back after the war and be paid for building the shed! They did not come back. It was a way of POW'S to 'pay' the Mathwin's for feeding and housing them during the war. C)The poles (whitegum) were cut on farm and the stones from local stone country d-e) The completed shed.- also referred to as Yarrak Shed.

A film about the local Italian Prisoners of War is on the Kodja Place touchscreen

Audio of Jill Robertson (nee Mathwin) talking about the Italian POW's also in public access - search POW

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-118-KPCW2025.36a-f

Item type

Photographs

Keywords

Italian Prisoner of War

Year

1942 - 1945

Primary significance criteria