Oreste Ferrari

Husband to Ines and a car salesman by trade, Orested began his activity as a helper right after the Armistice of 8 September 1943: «Main helper in his district for organisation and assisted in food, lodging for hundreds of prisoners of war». 

John (sinistra) e Oreste, Luino – 1943 (Australian War Memorial)

Since September 1943, Oreste welcomed to his home for more than four months Australian John Desmond Peck, former PoW escaped from PG 106, Vercelli and was active in organising support networks to aid the escapees reach Switzerland:

He was my main helper in getting prisoners of war across the frontier into Switzerland. Not less than three hundred prisoners passed through his hands…prisoners of war were guided to the frontier by Ferrari and his wife and his nephew Santino.

In February 1944, the couple was arrested in their home in Voldominio (Luino) by some agents of the judicial police (polizia giudiziaria). The house was looted and razed. Oreste’s four cars, which he used for his job, were stolen. However, Peck managed to avoid capture. 

Santino, only fourteen at the time, was shot on the spot, while Oreste and Ines were brought to San Vittore prison in Milan, and then deported to Mauthausen. They survived until the end of the war.

This helper has shown outstanding courage, initiative and loyalty; it is in large measure due to his untiring efforts that some three hundred escapers were able to regain their freedom.