Heritage Community Foundation PresentsAlberta Online Encyclopedia
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Home>> People and Communities>> Ethnocultural Communities>> Alberta's Italian Community>> Military Service>> Photo Gallery |
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. At least seven men from the Crowsnest Pass volunteered and these included Anthony Peressini from Blairmore. He was among the 721 Canadians who died in Spain and was killed in the last engagement of the "Mac-Pap" Battalion in summer of 1938 at the Ebro River. His death is a touching example of the patriotism of these new Canadians. On February 12th, 2000 a bronze statue was erected at the British Columbia Legislature and on the 20th October, 2001, Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson unveiled a Monument to the Batttalion in Ottawa.',17))
, Romano and Giacomo—left Valvasone, province of Udine, in 1905 with their Father Andrea to work in Lille. Their Father returned but they settled in Blairmore to work for the West Canadian Collieries. Augusto, Doro, Romano and Giacomo returned to Italy to serve in the Italian Army in the First World War. All four married while in Italy returning to work in mines and railways. A fifth brother, Erminio, came to Blairmore in 1921. Giacomo was killed when a slide in the mine filled the chamber with methane gas killing him and his partner instantly. ',13))
![In spite of "enemy alien" designation young men from the Italian community enlisted and their families supported the war effort.](javascript:Dynapop(2,'images/crowsnest/169_unit12_01_det.jpg','In spite of "enemy alien" designation young men from the Italian community enlisted and their families supported the war effort.',13))
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![Paul Baratelli was apprenticed as a blacksmith and came to Canada from Northwest Italy in 1900 at the age of 16. He worked at blacksmithing at mines and logging camps throughout his working life. He "ordered" a mail order bride and married a girl from his hometown in 1908 and they had two sons, one of whom is pictured above. The couple were community-minded and were members of the Rebekah and the Odd Fellows Lodges.](javascript:Dynapop(2,'images/crowsnest/169_unit12_03_det.jpg','Paul Baratelli was apprenticed as a blacksmith and came to Canada from Northwest Italy in 1900 at the age of 16. He worked at blacksmithing at mines and logging camps throughout his working life. He "ordered" a mail order bride and married a girl from his hometown in 1908 and they had two sons, one of whom is pictured above. The couple were community-minded and were members of the Rebekah and the Odd Fellows Lodges.',13))
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For more on coal mining in Western Canada, visit Peel’s Prairie Provinces.