Silvio
Vincenzo
Bertolini
1876-1940
Castelvecchio

Silvio was born at Castelvecchio near Barga in 1876. The youngest of nine children, Silvio Vincenzo (my maternal Nonno) emigrated in 1900 from the hilltop town of Castelvecchio, near Barga in Tuscany. He was recorded as living as a boarder at the home of his sister Costanza, and her husband Cristofano Ghiloni at 84 North Street, Glasgow in the 1901 Scotland Census.

This military service photograph was taken about 1905.

Silvio married my Nonna Rosa Pieraccini in September 1912 at St Patrick's Church in Anderston, Glasgow - their wedding photograph is depicted above.


Silvio and Rosa set up home at a top floor flat located at 362 St Vincent Street where their three children were born.


Silvio established a Fish and Chip shop located at 495 St Vincent Street, Glasgow.

This photo shows Silvio standing proudly with his two young children - Gino and Maria - outside the fish restaurant in 1919. The family flourished but like all the other Italian internees, Silvio was rounded up on June 2nd and subsequently embarked on the Arandora Star.

Silvio's son, Gino was also picked up by the local police and interned in the Isle of Man. Gino was my mother's elder brother. A close friend of Gino was my father Alberto - son of Alfonso Pacitti - and both of them were interned together. Alberto and Clementina were later to be married in July 1945.

Nonna Rosa remained at 362 St Vincent Street until the 1970s when the building was demolished. She was relocated to a 13th floor flat at Royston Road before spending her final years living with my Mum and Dad. Rosa reached the remarkable age of 103 years before passing away in 1983.

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