Servigliano Calling
July 2, 2008 8:54 PM   Subscribe

‘Even to this day the diary has a slight aroma of cocoa,’ says Steve Dickinson about a diary kept by his uncle Robert Dickinson while a prisoner at Servigliano, an Italian war camp, in the 1940s. The diary has a cover made of old cocoa tins (hence the smell) with a broadcast aerial design incorporating the title 'Servigliano Calling.' It begins with his capture by the Germans in November 1941, and finishes, about six months before his death, in September 1944. Via The Diary Junction blog.
posted by amyms (14 comments total) 11 users marked this as a favorite
 
Great post. But how did Robert Dickinson die?
posted by orthogonality at 9:41 PM on July 2, 2008


Wow--really compelling. Thank you for the post. Are any details known about his death?
posted by LarryC at 9:42 PM on July 2, 2008


Here's the post about his death.
posted by amyms at 9:52 PM on July 2, 2008


First football match 20 min. each way, only the Cooks any good, the rest too weak.

ain't that a bitch.

I was struck by the amount of mention, and apparent importance, of cigarettes in this diary. What a devil weed.
posted by yort at 10:07 PM on July 2, 2008


I was struck by the amount of mention, and apparent importance, of cigarettes in this diary. What a devil weed.


But they help to keep hunger pains away, plus, they were probably the only pleasure they had- Besides, back then cigarettes were good for you.
posted by mattoxic at 4:09 AM on July 3, 2008 [1 favorite]


We cannot pray for him because we belong to a different religion, but this notwithstanding, I never miss to go to his grave every Sunday and place flowers on his grave.

I found that kind of interesting.
posted by spicynuts at 5:47 AM on July 3, 2008


Besides the fascinating content, that's a beautiful artifact. Reminds me of prison camp newspapers - eg. POW-WOW, The Liberation Bulletin, The Tiki Times.

a diary kept by his nephew Robert Dickinson

Uncle, no?
posted by jack_mo at 9:34 AM on July 3, 2008


Uncle, yes - thank you - now altered
posted by Pikle at 11:02 AM on July 3, 2008


Uncle, yes - thank you - now altered

Pikle, I on your profile that you're the Diary Junction guy. Very cool. I didn't know you were a Mefite. :)
posted by amyms at 2:52 PM on July 3, 2008


That should read "I see on your profile"...

Btw, I emailed the Metafilter admins to see if they'll change "nephew" to "uncle" in the FPP as well.

posted by amyms at 2:57 PM on July 3, 2008


Consider it uncled.
posted by cortex at 3:00 PM on July 3, 2008


Just noticed you're in Projects too.
posted by amyms at 3:01 PM on July 3, 2008


Thanks, cortex!
posted by amyms at 3:02 PM on July 3, 2008


Thanks Amyms, Cortex - very much obliged.
posted by Pikle at 1:57 AM on July 4, 2008


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