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the padre Father Giacobazzi and Domenico Chiocchetti, had two Nissen huts joined end to end and the latter set to work, aided by a small num- ber of other POWs. One end was to be the Chapel, the other a school.

One end of the corrugated iron hut was lined with plas- terboard and an altar with altar-rail cast in concrete. The and Churchill Barrier No.1 across Kirk Sound Chiocchetti painted the Madonna and Child behind This was so successful that façade was erected with the the altar which is based on a more plasterboard and artistic help of Bruttapasta, with an 19th century painting by help was procured and the archway and pillars. A belfry Nicolo Barabino inspired by whole of the hut was lined was mounted on top and a a card his mother had given to and then decorated. The moulded head of Christ in red him when he left home in upper parts appear like brick clay was placed on the front for the war. with vaulting, while the lower of the arch. The whole exte- walls are painted to look like rior of the hut was then cov- The interior of the Italian Chapel today He also frescoed a White carved marble. The “vaults” ered with a thick coat of This chapel, "The Miracle of to the war, the Italian Chapel saint of soldiers, St George, Dove, the symbol of the Holy in the ceiling are especially cement, never in short supply Camp 60", together with the on Lamb Holm. about to kill the dragon, Spirit, at the centre of the well executed, and the visual at Lambholm in 1944! statue of St George and the which represents evil. It sym- vault and included the sym- effect is quite stunning. Dragon is all that now To brighten up the cheerless bolises a will to “kill” all bols of the four Evangelists Chiocchetti had remained remains of Camp 60, or camp of Nissen huts the misunderstandings among around it, as well as two Palumbo, a metalworker, behind for several weeks in indeed any of the other con- Italians made paths with the people of different cultures.” Cherubim and two Seraphim made candelabra and the rood 1945 to finish the font, and struction sites of the one thing they had in abun- lower down, all from the screen and gates. After all returned to in 1960 Churchill Barriers, which dance, concrete, and planted The prisoners soon had a the- card, which he kept through- this work the outside seemed after being sought out by the were built between 1940 and flowerbeds. Domenico atre and a recreational hut out the war. mean and so a concrete 1945. The Italian Prisoners of Chiocchetti made the statue complete with a concrete bil- War of Camp 60, who arrived from barbed wire and cement, liard table, but they lacked a Proud Italians pose outside their Chapel in January 1942 to help build to preside over the camp chapel. In late 1943 the new the Churchill Barriers, left square. According to Bruno commandant, Major Buckley, behind an unusual memorial Volpi, “It depicts the patron with the encouragement of

St George and the Dragon in 1944 Chiocchetti and Palumbo

The Chapel was in use from 1944

The Chapel in 1945

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of your kindness and wonder- ful hospitality. I shall remem- ber you always, and my chil- dren shall learn from me to love you. I thank (you)....for having given me the joy of seeing again the little chapel of Lambholm where I, in leav- ing, leave a part of my heart."

In recent years several of the ex-prisoners and their fami- lies have returned to visit their chapel. In 1992 a small Visiting Italian ex-POWs in 1992 group came on the 50th BBC, when he did much to The Italian Chapel is now one anniversary of their arrival on restore the internal paintwork of the most-visited monu- Lamb Holm. Sandra Tait of the chapel. In 1961 his ments in Orkney and is a fit- spoke in Italian, “We wel- hometown, Moena, near ting memorial to those lost in come you on your return to Bolzano in the Dolomites, wartime. Orkney's sites span the chapel which we all love gifted a wayside shrine, a at least 6,000 years from the and admire – this little bit of The exterior of the Italian Chapel today carved figure of Christ erect- Neolithic to the present and Italy and of the Catholic In 1995, to celebrate the 50th Domenico Chiocchetti died shrine, which is a monument ed outside the Chapel, to the the Chapel provides a sharp Church implanted in our anniversary of the opening of in Moena in May 1999. A to hope and faith in exile. people of Orkney. More contrast to the older ones. hearts in Orkney”. recently much exterior work Chiocchetti, in addressing the the Barriers, a further group memorial service was con- returned and a reception was ducted at the chapel by the has been done to restore and Orcadian people, said, "The Bruno Volpi, explained held in their honour by then Bishop Mario Conti preserve the Chapel and the chapel is yours - for you to “What is it that made POWs . which was attended by many memorial statue for the love and preserve. I take with work so feverishly with par- Hopefully this connection Orcadians as well as his wife, future. me to Italy the remembrance tially or totally inadequate between Italy and Orkney Maria, their son and two means at their disposal? It St George and the Dragon today will endure long after memo- daughters. It is somewhat was the wish to show to one- ries of World War II have ironic that most of the many self first, and to the world faded. Cultural links such as visitors to Orkney cross the then, that in spite of being school exchanges and visits Churchill Barriers. They trapped in a barbed wire by individuals and families as come not to remember the camp, down in spirit, physi- well as musicians are con- English war leader, or to mar- cally and morally deprived of tributing to this. vel at military engineering, many things, one could still but to visit our little Italian find something inside which Chiocchetti at work in 1960 could be set free.” Sandra with visiting ex-POWs in 1995 at Water Sound The Chiocchetti family at the Italian Chapel in 1999

“People cannot be judged by their precarious situations. Their culture, spirit and will to express themselves in cre- ative thoughts and deeds are stronger than any limitation to freedom. This is the spirit that gave birth to the works of art on Lamb Holm.”

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