Baiting of Italian prisoners of war leads to stabbing and row by 200

Baiting of Italian prisoners of war by men from Plean was the catalyst for a serious stabbing and a disturbance involving a mob of about 200, Stirling Sheriff Court was told in June 1945.

POW Italo Caliciotti was billeted at Roundhead Farm, Plean, when on May 17, 1945, he assaulted miner Bernard Reynolds, Burnside Crescent, Plean, by stabbing him in the chest to his severe injury.

Caliciotti was sentenced to three months’ hard labour even though Sheriff Burn-Murdoch acknowledged he had been under `very considerable provocation’.

The fiscal explained that in the days leading up to the incident there had been trouble caused by youths from Plean baiting the POWs as they used the rightof-way through the farm.

The farmer described the accused as having a `rather arrogant nature’ and had seen him sharpening a pocket knife and threatening to fight the Plean men with it. The stabbing rose out of an incident a month earlier which resulted in Reynolds being taunted in the village for having run away from the Italians.

To vindicate his honour, Reynolds challenged the accused to a fight. They went into a field at Pleanbank Farm, Plean, occupied by Mr Robert Martin, and when Reynolds attacked he was stabbed by the accused and suffered a serious chest wound. He was treated at Stirling Royal Infirmary but was making a `splendid recovery’.

Immediately after the stabbing, youths who were with Reynolds attempted to go to his rescue but an Italian accompanying the accused drew a `jack-knife’ and warned them they would get the same treatment as their pal. The Italians then made off.

Reynolds claimed he kicked out after Caliciotti drew his knife but the accused claimed he produced the pocket knife as a deterrent and used it when Reynolds gave him a `violent kick’.

A short time after the stabbing the farmer at the farm where the Italians were billeted received word a crowd of about 200 were approaching.

He brought the three Italians working for him into the house and locked all the doors.

When the mob arrived at his kitchen door, they told the farmer that if he didn’t hand over the prisoners he would be sorry for it.

The farmer was `unafraid’ and on the point of going for his shotgun when police arrived.

Prominent among the crowd that night were Alfred Higgins, Burnside Crescent, James Richmond Dunnachie, Red Row and John White, Burnside Crescent, all Plean.

They appeared before the court and admitted breach of the peace at Pleanbank Farm on May 17, 1945. Accused said they had been drinking and were `excited’. Higgins said he had later apologised to the farmer.

Sheriff Burn-Murdoch spoke of villagers `stirring up bad blood, and added: “The events of that evening reflect very little credit on Plean. You seem to have been members of something very like a riot.”

Each was fined £4 (£170 today) or 28 days’ jail.