Lamberto Yonna
Lamberto Yonna was born in Ancona in Italy in 1891. He served in the Italian armed forces in the First World War before emigrating to Australia in 1920. In Australia he pursued a career in business and became Secretary of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Sydney. He was arrested in early August 1940 in Orange and spent time also in Hay and Liverpool before being tranpsorted to Loveday in March 1942. He remained there until January 1944. A gifted artist, Yonna brought his talents to bear in Loveday, making artworks depicting guards and fellow internees but also teaching others to sketch and draw. His works are an invaluable record of life inside the camp.
Tutta na voce [All one voice]. The first cartoon in a series of four showing the tribulations that the fictional Signor F. S. Internati goes through every day at the Australian internment camps. Despite having several health complaints both real and imagined, his biggest concern is the gossip of the other internees. AWM ART27799.
Tutta na voce [All one voice]. The second cartoon in a series of four showing the tribulations that the fictional Signor F. S. Internati goes through every day at the Australian internment camps - especially to do with the gossip of the other internees, in the eyes of whom he feels he can do no right. AWM ART27800.
Tutta na voce [All one voice]. Left unfinished, this is the third cartoon in a series of four showing the tribulations that the fictional Signor F. S. Internati goes through every day at the Australian internment camps – especially to do with the gossip of the other internees.
Tutta na voce [All one voice]. One of a series of cartoons by Yonna showing the tribulations that the fictional Signor F. S. Internati goes through every day at the Australian internment camps – especially to do with the gossip of the other internees. AWM ART27802.
Only a little friendly talk. A short narrative comic where a man is approached by a fellow internee, who proceeds to talk to him about nothing in particular until he passes out in exasperation. AWM ART27803.
An illustration of the interior of an Australian POW/internment camp, featuring a long line of men waiting for their food. Circa 1942-43. AWM ART27796.
The First Mass, Loveday Camp. A drawing of a Christian mass being held at an Australian internment camp. Seen from the rear of the chapel, the nurses are seated to the left and the male officers and internees are on the right. AWM ART27798.
In Vino Veritas. A cartoon depicting an enormous fight that has broken out amongst the internees in the Loveday Internment Camp, South Australia. The men are hitting, pushing and climbing over each other in an attempt to get inside one of the buildings. Dionysus, the god of wine, presides over the scene and proclaims ‘In Vino Veritas’. AWM ART27797
Open air theatre. A diagram showing the proposed floorplan complete with labels and dimensions for an open air theatre in the Loveday Internment Camp in South Australia that was built in September 1942. AWM ART27805.
A drawing showing a group of internees at an Australian camp sitting outside on a clear night to watch a play performed in an open-air theatre. Circa 1942. AWM ART27804
One of several cartoon portraits done by Yonna, this one features a man smoking a pipe while working with large garden tools outside in an Australian internment camp. 1942-43. AWM ART27812.
Barmera, South Australia. 21 April. Exhibition of artwork by students of Lamberto Yonna who were all Italian internees in No 9 Compound of the Loveday Internment Camp Group. The large caricatures were done by Yonna himself. Photograph by Hedley Cullen. AWM 123027.
Source:
MP1103/1, PWN9219: Prisoner of War/Internee: Yonna, Lamberto; Date of birth – 16 June 1891; Nationality – Italian
