Italian Prisoner of War Identity Card, Mercuri, Mario PWI 57376
(National Archives of Australia J3118, 119)
Allan Blackman from Gympie recalls a macadamia farm at Lagoon Pocket where he worked during the 1970s and how he had been told about a few hundred seedling trees that had been planted by the Italian POWs during WW2. Combining local knowledge with archival research, a more complete picture emerges.
Mario Mercuri and Guido Vaccarini worked on Bernard Mason’s farm at Lagoon Pocket and “they would all search in the scrub above Calico Creek for wild macadamias with thin shells which were used to establish Bernie’s orchard.” This species of macadamia ‘integrifolia’ is also known as ‘papershell’ macadamia because of its thinner shell. As a native species, it is now listed as vulnerable.
While initially, the relationship between farmer and POWs would have been of one boss and worker, a friendship of mutual respect would have been emerged as Guido and Mario were credited with saving the lives of Bernie Mason’s daughters. The connection between Bernie Mason and Guido Vaccarini continued with Guido visiting Gympie to visit Bernie, after he had migrated to Australian in 1951.
Footprints of Italian Prisoners of War in Australia 
There are reports of the history of the Italian prisoner D’ANIELLO MARTINO, who died in the Waranga hospital on December 3, 1944, are there any photographs of him?
Thanks
Vito Eliseo
vitoeliseo@hotmail.it
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Dear Vito, all Italian prisoners of war who worked on farms would have had an identity card. Out of 1500 Italian prisoners of war in Queensland, only 200 identity cards exist. In other states, for example Victoria where Martino D’Aniello worked, these identity cards do not appear to have survived. Each Australian state appears to have had a different archiving system. This makes it very frustrating for Italian families. Joanne Tapiolas
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