Helpers

Achille Pertempi

Achille was the owner of a firm producing electrical and radio components in Fabriano. He provided aid to several escaped PoWs in the area from the first days after the Armistice. Among them, he especially remembered William Peter Bulmer and Michael Wagner, who arrived in the area after their escape from PG 19, Bologna, with other soldiers of various nationalities «needing food, clothes, and shelter». With Giuseppe Pellegrini, «we did what we could to meet their needs. They were guests at my house and I made sure they had all they needed».

In January 1944, due to Allied bombings, he was forced to move with his family near to Badia, a hamlet near Fabriano. Nonetheless, he made sure that the escaped PoWs, with a few Americans and Italian paratroopers as well, were also sheltered nearby, in a house belonging to one of his acquaintances. He continued to feed and clothe them himself.

«All the people I met in that period were well educated and behaved correctly, and I considered them as my friends».

Once the Allied troops reached the nearby area, a few of the escapees decided to attempt to cross the frontline and reach Pescara or Pontremoli by boat. «They assured us they would send us news as soon as possible.»

Data

Date of birth:
18/02/1901
Place:
Badia di Fabriano
Province:
Ancona
Region:
Marche
Assistance provided:
Food, shelter, other goods of first necessity
Prisoners helped:
Cpt. William Peter Bulmer-Royal Artillery, Lte. Michael Wagner-Welch Regiment, and other unidentified escapees
Start date:
September 1943
End date:
May 1944
Other helpers involved:
Carlo Egidio Cristalli, Giuseppe Pellegrini. [Altri helpers legati a Bulmer e Wagner tra Bologna, San Marino, Esanatoglia]: Gigi Cardona, famiglia Medici, Carlo Bernardini, Diali Zeno, Lucia Grifoni e suo marito.
Bibliography:
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Archival sources:
NARA, Record Group 331: Records of Allied Operational and Occupation Headquarters, World War II Series: Inventory of the Records of the Prisoner of War Claims Screening Commission and the Allied Screening Commission (Italy), Claim n° 82.876.
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The story of Don Giuseppe Beotti

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