“Many priests in the villages of Pavese helped the Pows,” according to Massimo “Max” Piacentini (a researcher with the Istituto Pavese di storia della Resistenza e dell’età contemporanea) . 

“Don Mario Grugni was a highly-esteemed pastor for many years in Ceranova. But the most important was Don Piero Angelini, pastor of Vairano, about 4 kilometers from Ceranova. Here was the camp of our Pows. Don Piero was an agent of the Ufficio Assistenza Prigionieri Alleati of CLN, and he saved many Pows (I have his memoirs).

“I think Don Piero and Don Mario certainly collaborated with each other to assist and save the local Pows. Also, Don Piero hid Pows in the bell tower and in the attic of his church in Vairano.”

Whereas Dr. Domenico Lunghi is listed on the repatriation reports of Bill Armitt, John “Jock” Attrill, Frank Bayley, and John “Jock” Hamilton), Don Mario Grugni is mentioned in only the report of John Attrill—as providing food and accommodation in November 1943.