Death of Emilio Ceragioli, Glasgow 1945

Forty years ago two young Italian Anarchists stowed away on a ship bound for London. One, ‘Mosquito’ Borghi travelled on to America, the other, Emilio Ceragioli, remained in London working as a barber. He had escaped from Viterbo Prison where he was serving a sentence of two years for his Anarchist activities. He had earlier served nine months for taking part in strikes in Terni, as a consequence of which he was being hounded around by the legal thugs under the patronage of the House of Savoy and the Crispi government. In the year 1910 he removed to Glasgow where he opened a barber’s shop in Old Govan Road, almost opposite the Finnieston Tunnel where he remained for thirty years until the entry of Mussolini in the recent War. Although he was an ardent Anti-Fascist a gang of misguided patriots in the anti-Italian riots of 1940, smashed up his shop. This was a blow he felt very deeply. He had lost a lung whilst in prison in Italy as a result of that dread disease T.B. very common amongst inmates of prisons and the working class. This coupled with the food scarcity of the War left him suffering very much during his last years. He died suddenly on the 13th September. He had visited me on that date and had as usual given his very frequent contribution to our propaganda funds. He remained consistent and loyal to his Anarchist views to the end. We will miss his advice, encouragement, and his comradeship.

Frank Leech 

‘Death of Italian Anarchist’ Freedom through anarchism 20/10/1945 [Where his name is mistakenly given as ‘Emelio Cerogioli’]

Further Info

Ceragioli gets two brief mentions in Edoardo Puglielli’s Dizionario degli Anarchici Abruzzesi (Centro Studi Camillo di Sciullo, Chieti). Not under his own name but under two of his fellow members of the local anarchist group in Terni.

‘DESIDERI, GIUSTINO, born in Aquila on 29 September 1878. tailor. In Terni in 1900 he was active in the local anarchist group to which Emilio Ceragioli, Edmondo Coen, Emilio Leombruni, Remo Borzacchini, Domenico Zuccari, Giuseppe Angelici and others also belonged. […]’ (p.56)

See also the entry for ‘LEOMBRUNI, EMILIO, b. Terni on 12 January 1877, blacksmith’ The same fellow members are listed. (p. 97)

Going by both entries, the local group was involved in anti-monarchy and labour agitation, celebrating Bresci’s regicide and Leombruni was at one point caught in possession of explosives and an iron mortar in his home. He also was a member of a local group known as Giovane Libertaria (Libertarian Youth) which claimed about 30 members. It’s not clear how/if Ceragioli was involved in any or all of this.

Ceragioli’s widow was Helen Sinclair (she also used Ceragioli), an office cleaner. (see https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37798/page/5795/data.pdf)

Translated by: Paul Sharkey.