When and where did the life of a soldier begin for Jormen Salami?

Jormen Salami and friends Roma 28.3.40

(photo courtesy of the family of Jormen Salami)

A baker from Sustinente Mantua, Jormen sent the about photo home to his parents with the words: “Your son remembers you, together with his friends, in the first days of military service”

Addis Abeba Abyssinia 1940

(photo courtesy of the family of Jormen Salami)

Italian troops at Uolchefit (Wolchefit) protected the route to Gondar garrison, the last remaining outpost flying the Italian flag. Troop numbers at Uolchefit had totalled 4000 soldiers of which 1000 were colonial soldiers. At the time of surrender there were 1,631 Italian and 1,300 colonial soldiers.

Besieged since April 1941 and with more than a month completely cut off, Uolchefit ceased resistance at the end of September 1941: “The Rome communique stated, “The heroic garrison at Wolchefit, which has been closely besieged since April 15 and has received no food supplies for some days, was ordered to cease hostilities on Friday [26.9.41]’.” 1941 ‘WOLCHEFIT CEASES RESISTANCE’, The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 – 1954), 29 September, p. 8. , viewed 20 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17749704

Jormen Salami was captured 28.9.41.

The Barley Pit of Wolchefit describes the situation of the siege as told by Raffaele Talarico another of the Italian soldiers at Wolchefit.

By I.S.O. Playfair – Chapter 16, Playfair, I.S.O. (1956). The Mediterranean and Middle East: “The Germans come to the Help of their Ally” (1941). HISTORY OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR. II. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=54678658

1941 ‘Surrender of Wolchefit’, Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1954), 8 October, p. 3. , viewed 20 Jun 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article95138148