Poor Tom is getting everything but an answer to his question of time the Italians were in Cornwall - presumably to establish a family date. Sorry Tom. Thoughts of Italian POWS's bring only happy memories. Whereas the Germans remained in their camps, the Italians were sent out to help on the farms around the district. I have many memories of riding my bike along country lanes around Penzance when I was in my teens (about 1942-4) and being greeted and waved to by the Ities as we called them. I think they were relieved to be out of the war and from under the foot of the Nazis and doing what they liked best - working in the fields of a family farm. I don't recall any of them trying to escape. Sorry Tom Pat