Photograph of camp band/orchestra in outdoor setting - solo in inglese

Double row of 22 internees; 11 are seated in the front row. All seem to be wearing denim. All but two also seem to be wearing a white tie. Individual at far left seems to be the conductor. Most of the members of the band/orchestra are holding brass instruments including: trumpets, french horns, trombones, tuba, saxophone, clarinets, and flutes. The group is positioned in front of a building whose facing seems to be comprised of studded wood planks, with exterior stairs visible indicating multiple floors. Given this contruction it is not a barrack or dormitory and may be a military building.

Photograph is dated in black ink to "194-" . Given the similarity of the setting and backdop to another dated image (DICEA2011-0001-0007), we can suggest a date of 1943 and the location of Fredericton Internment Camp. An identification card reading "73" is positioned on the ground beside the internee seated at the far right. The identification card used suggests it was a formal picture taken by a government official. Further the back of the image is stamped "47C" in the lower right corner in black ink. Barely visible in red ink is presumably the stamp for "CANADA INT-OP CENSORED".

Several of the Italian Canadian internees were skilled musicians. At camp, they formed a band which entertained others by performing recitals. We also know that lyrics were composed by a few of the internees which specifically spoke about or referenced the internment experience. Instruments were provided by family members and by charitable organizations. Possibily Internment Operations also secured instruments for internees.

This photograph belongs to a collection preserved by Italian Canadian internee Osvaldo Giacomelli. Previous to his death, he had spoken on the record about his internment to journalists and academics. Some suggestion has been made that Giacomelli was a fascist supporter and Mussolini-adherent. He was one of the longest-serving of the Italian Canadian internees, released on May 29, 1945. Giacomelli himself felt that he was wrongfully interned, and sued the Government of Canada in 2005. When Giacomelli died in March of 2006, his case was still unresolved.