POW Memoirs: Philip Sydney NORTON

Page 9: A Prisoner of War Remembers

Angelina & Domenico De Blasis

In this account I have written of Domenico and Angelina in the past tense. If they are still alive they will both be approaching 90 and God bless them and their family. If they are no longer living, I am positive that such genuine Christians will be Resting In Peace.

In the early Church the Cardinal Virtues were deemed to be:

*Faith, as exemplified by Domenico in his belief in an ultimate Allied victory, and at the same time, I believe, in his Maker.

*Hope, as exemplified by his continual use of the word speriamo (we hope), all the time we were with him.

*Charity, as exemplified by his treatment of us, his fellow peasants and citizens, and the many Allies and non-bellicose Germans who called upon him.

To these incontrovertible virtues must be added a lot more, including his:

*Loyalty, for once we fell in with him, he showed his whole-hearted support for an Allied victory and a Fascist-free Italy.

*Forethought, in suggesting that we wrote letters to our families for secretion and possible posting.

*Intelligence, as shown by the construction of the various hideouts, etc.

*Humour, as exemplified by his hilarious description of the "enemy" onslaught on the barn.

*Intuition, in his uncanny ability to distinguish between friend and foe.

*Sympathy, as shown in the many unfortunate incidents which occurred when we knew him, and at my untimely departure.

*Heroism, displayed on many occasions.

*Hospitality, without any thought of recompense.

I had not previously met, nor have I since met, any other man endowed with all these attributes.

P.S. Norton, Hamilton, New Zealand. 1979

(continued on next page)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9







Contact me
© Copyright Blanche Charles, 2003 - 2007. All rights reserved