NARA 1

N.A.R.A. and the Allied Screening Commission – FINDING NINO who then ‘BEGAT’ BEOTTI

Having now established how to access the records of the Allied Screening Commission being digitized in the on-going project by N.A.R.A., a venture being funded by the Monte San Martino Trust, I decided it was time to see if I could shed some light on the colourful character of Don Nino Rolleri who appeared to have played a crucial part in my father’s travels through the Italian countryside after being released from P.G. 49 at Fontanellato following the Italian Armistice in September 1943.

Wow! So 62 results for “don nino rolleri”. But jumping out at me from that first one at the top are the words (yup you got it!) Allied Screening Commission (Italy). But who the hell is Beotti, E.? Nothing for it but to Click on the Link!

Well, now it appears I have 23 images to wade through. The only problem is they all appear to be very faded and this is going to be a struggle. If only there was a transcription. But the words at the top appear to indicate that the Transcription is Not Started. So why does it say Extracted Text 1. I decide to click on the latter.

EUREKA!

OK so I’ve got some interesting stuff about this man. I’m assuming this is an Italian man? But where is Don Nino Rolleri? Wait, wait, wait! Does that say Houghton and Lewis Heath. Aren’t they the guys who were in the photo I found with this Don Nino Rolleri and my Dad? So I plough on to the next document. Page 2 – OK here’s another one from the group…Ballantyne…..this is great. Quick glances at 4, 5 and 6 start making it clear that this is starting to get a little disturbing as words such as, Partisans, Executed and War Crimes are popping out of the pages but I do now know that this is a Don Guiseppe Beotti who had been assisting men who my father had been with at some point. I’ve got the photo to prove it!

I plough on and quickly realise I’m going to have to learn Italian quick, or maybe Google Translate is going to have to come to the fore. Pages 16 and 17 provide evidence of a letter written by G. de Bruyne Lt. Col. of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps dated 14 November 1946 in support of this claim. But it’s the next few pages, 18, 19 and 20, that seal the deal that I have found Don Nino Rolleri in a hand written letter, together with its translation.

So, although thus far this treasure trove of information hasn’t directly thrown anything up about my father, it has confirmed one piece of the puzzle I am piecing together in that Don Nino Rolleri is very much a part of his life and this search has brought about the proverbial hit of “Two Birds with One Stone”, in that I have also found Don Guiseppe Beotti who may also have provided assistance to my father in that the two priests were very much connected, as evidenced by these documents collated by the ASC and digitised by NARA.