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Enrico Carlini (1904–1994)

by Allison Murchie

This article was published:

This entry is from People Australia

Enrico Carlini (1904-1994) motor mechanic, taxi driver, lawn cutter, Communist activist 

Birth: 9 March 1904 at Monsampolo del Tronto, Ascoli, central Italy, son of Giovanni Carlino and Domenica, née Doniatsi, agriculturists. Marriage: to Caterina. They had two sons. Death: 10 July 1994 in nursing home at St Peters, Adelaide, South Australia. Religion: Catholic. 

  • Left school in Grade 7. In Italy he was involved in politics and had to get away from fascism. Was a Socialist, then joined the Communist Party. Served in Italian militia.
  • Went to New York as an illegal immigrant on a fake passport, deported back to Italy.
  • Arrived in Adelaide, SA, in 1926. Got jobs skinning wattle trees, was a driver in a quarry, worked on railway line, owned his own garage and worked as a taxi driver.
  • Joined Communist Party of Australia in 1927. Was caught distributing illegal brochures many times and arrested. Police searched his house for CPA books. He placed a CPA sticker "Boycott Japanese Goods"on a detective's back. CPA leaders stayed in his home.
  • Naturalised on 11 August 1939.
  • Called up for full-time duty in the Citizen Military Forces on 17 July 1942. Served in South Australia (1942–43), with the 10th Employment Company; in Victoria (1944) and New Guinea and New Britain (1944–45), with the 53rd Port Craft Company; and in New South Wales (1945), with the 2nd Employment Company. Discharged on 15 August 1945 in South Australia.

Source
Michael Tsounis, oral history interview at State Library of SA (1984).

Original Publication

Additional Resources

Citation details

Allison Murchie, 'Carlini, Enrico (1904–1994)', People Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://labouraustralia.anu.edu.au/biography/carlini-enrico-33551/text41934, accessed 27 July 2024.

© Copyright Labour Australia, 2012

Life Summary [details]

Birth

9 March, 1904
Monsampolo del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno, Italy

Death

10 July, 1994 (aged 90)
St Peters, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Cultural Heritage

Includes subject's nationality; their parents' nationality; the countries in which they spent a significant part of their childhood, and their self-identity.

Religious Influence

Includes the religion in which subjects were raised, have chosen themselves, attendance at religious schools and/or religious funeral rites; Atheism and Agnosticism have been included.

Occupation
Military Service
Political Activism