Back in 1989, in the Italian-American newspaper America Oggi, an article was written featuring our grandfather – Nonno Paolo Mosconi. What made this event fascinating was the fact that the interviewer got Nonno to open up about his past experience as a POW in World War II.
Anyone who ever walked into Villa Mosconi between 1976 and 1991 will remember Nonno. He was always there at the entrance hanging up coats, shaking hands with the gentlemen and giving compliments to the ladies. He was very sociable and outgoing, but he was NEVER the type to open up about any hardships he may have suffered in his past – especially about the war.
That’s why this article hits a chord with me whenever I read it.
Nonno mentions two agonizing moments in his life: one, as a soldier in a war he was forced to serve in; and two, the passing of his cherished wife, Giovanna.
During the interview he still identifies grandma as “mia moglie”, or “my wife”. (And the article was written 20 years after her passing.)
Even though Nonno hardly ever talked about it, we all knew how much he loved her. Our parents have reminisced many times telling us about their youth with grandma and grandpa back in Cogno San Bassano.
Grandma was always on his mind; even while he was a prisoner of war in England.
The story begins in Donnalucata, Sicily where Nonno and his troop immediately gave up their arms without putting up a fight against the Allied Forces. They were quickly transferred to a camp in Bona, Algeria (present day Annaba).
On September 8, 1943 an Armistice was announced between Italy and the Allied Forces. But much to their surprise, Nonno and the other soldiers were not sent back home.
As reported in the article, they were placed on a ship toward Scotland. According to family accounts, Nonno was then sent to Liverpool where he was to remain until his release in 1946.
“From July 1941, Italian prisoners captured in the Middle East were brought to Britain. This was the first major influx of prisoners of war to the country. Italian POWs presented one way of alleviating labour shortages in Britain, particularly in agriculture. Following the Italian surrender in 1943, 100,000 Italians volunteered to work as ‘co-operators’. They were given considerable freedom and mixed with local people.”
(source: www.iwm.org.uk)
Nonno always told us he was lucky to have been captured by the British.
While in England, he was allowed to work. In keeping with his character, the first thought in his mind was toward his wife and three children (Giovanni, Margherita, Antonietta) who he had left behind in Piacenza. Through some local contact with fellow Italians, he was able to send money back home. One of his jobs had to do with jewelry production. He had even managed to make a ring for his beloved wife. He engraved it with her initials and presented it to her upon his return.
This love story continued and grew even stronger post-World War II. Paolo and Giovanna went on to have four more children (Angela, Pietro, Rosetta, MariaTeresa). Giovanna persuaded Paolo to make the trip to Amercia. He was a bit hesistant but in the end he agreed. He even states that his wife was right! – not something easy for a man born in 1909 to admit. Yet another verification of the profound love he still had for his wife.
Towards the end of the article Nonno states that his only regret is that his wife was no longer with him. She had passed away only two years after arriving in the U.S.
And so with his wife gone and trying to keep his family united Paolo Mosconi declares he had no other choice than to name the restaurant Villa Mosconi in homage to his wife!
