Prisoner of War mail, by Ruggero Bacci, to Minnie Bacci, April 6, 1943

This typewritten prisoner of war mail in Italian, was sent by Ruggero Bacci, and is addressed to his wife Minnie Bacci, on April 6, 1943.

Most of the letter addresses the efforts of Bacci and his wife to secure his release. He notes that he is saddened to hear she is unwell, and suspects it has to do with his case, and the fact that she was not interviewed by the authorities. He notes that a former internee, Doctor Donato Sansone would explain the situation to her. He prohibits her from travelling to Ottawa in person to look into the situation. Instead, he advises her to focus on her health and the welfare of their sons and "to not worry any more about me". He notes that they have done all they could do, and now must await the decision of the authorities.

He notes that only five Italians remain from the Toronto area. He is the only one with a family. Although two of the others seem to have been before the commission (to consider their cases), they seem disinterested in release, having no family back home. He notes that 50 Italians remain interned. At this point, the remaining Italians would have been transferred from Camp Petawawa to Fredericton Internment Camp months before. He describes Camp Fredericton as an awful place -- cold with snow having fallen the past night.

Bacci ends the letter reassuring his wife that one day they will be reunited.

Bacci was interned for almost three years. In his absence, his wife Erminia (Minnie) suffered a serious nervous breakdown and was hospitalized at length. Bacci's oldest son Aldo was forced to quit high school to help support the family. When his father was released and returned home, Aldo received notice that he was conscripted into the Canadian Army; however, he did not serve overseas.

This document forms part of a collection of documents and other materials on loan by the Bacci family.