29-04-2025
Scots delegation to honour Arbroath born Italian partisan
Mackenzie was born in Cheshire, the son of Edinburgh-born Captain Lynedoch Archibald Mackenzie, and is known for escaping from a prisoner of war camp near to Piacenza before joining Brigata Stella Rossa and fighting in the resistance.
Fighting under the nom de guerre 'Captain Mack' he was killed in October 1944 at Ponte dell'Olio.
Read More:
Less well known is the story of Carini, who was born in Arbroath on March 11 1923 to Italian immigrants Cesare Carini and Filomena Curà.
His parents ran a fish and chip shop and he attended St Thomas Roman Catholic Junior School and subsequently Arbroath High School where he played football for the school team and local youth teams.
Carini's mother began suffering from health problems and he followed her on her return to Italy in 1938 as she sought relief from the harsh Angus weather.
His father, Cesare, was interned on the Isle of Man in a prisoner of war camp following the outbreak of the Second World War.
A talented footballer, he made his debut for Piacenza in Serie C, the Italian third division, in the 1942-43 season; ultimately making 13 appearances and scoring two goals in his role as a midfielder.
Carlo Carini, centre, ahead of a Piacenza match (Image: Davide Solenghi) A convicted anti-fascist, he joined the resistance in 1944 and thanks to his knowledge of English was key in rescuing Commonwealth soldiers who'd been captured in the African campaign and were interned in San Lazzaro and Veano. Indeed, he adopted the pseudonym 'inglese' or 'English'.
As a partisan Carini fought for the 141st Garibaldi brigade under commander Guglielmo Beghi as part of the so-called 'flying squad' which would launch raids for weapons and ammunition as well as attacking enemy vehicles in transit.
On October 31 1944 while on a raid in Piacenza with his comrade Aldo Bruschi, and following a firefight, he was captured and taken for interrogation.
The following morning, at dawn, the pair were taken outside and shot, with Carini's father not discovering until after the liberation what had happened to his son.
Eight descendants or relatives of the two partisans will make the trip to Italy next month, along with the historian Shaun Hullis and members of the British division of the National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI).
The delegation will visit a restored and relocated memorial to Carini as well as meeting with representatives from ASD Folgore, one of the youth teams for which he played.
They will also have a reception with the mayor of Borgo Val di Taro, where he was buried.
