Vehicle    From 2/7/1940  To 2/7/1940

Arandora Star

Categories: Tragedy

Countries: Germany, Italy

Deporting Italian and German prisoners of war the cruise ship was between Liverpool and Canada when it was struck by a torpedo from a German submarine. Of the 734 Italians on board, 486 died. Of the 479 Germans, 175 died. Amongst the dead were the father and grandfather of Paolozzi.

May 2009 - The BBC informs that there is a campaign for a memorial to the Welsh Italians who died on the Arandora Star, for the 70th anniversary in 2010. And here that the Teesside-based Italians will be commemorated on a plaque at Middlesbrough Town Hall. There are already memorials in Liverpool, Glasgow and Italy, as well as the one in London.

September 2023: The BBC reported on the recent identification of a body that was washed up on the South Ayrshire coast in August 1940.  ".. the unidentified individual was buried in an unmarked grave in Girvan's Doune Cemetery. More than 80 years later, detailed research has revealed his name - Francesco D'Inverno ..." We find the following story puzzling - it's not clear how, since his grave was unmarked, how this name has been associated with it. 

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Arandora Star

Commemorated ati

St Peters Church - Arandora Star

This carved memorial shows 3 drowning men reaching up to the cross from the w...

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Other Subjects

Michael Burns

Michael Burns

Crew member of the 'Olga'. Died during the voyage bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Hazrat Wali

Hazrat Wali

From BBC: "A boy of 16 has been charged with the murder of an 18-year-old stabbed to death on a playing field in south-west London. Police found Hazrat Wali fatally injured in Craneford Way, Twicke...

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Danny Robert Lewis

Danny Robert Lewis

Non-British, killed by the Bali bomb.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Nunhead Lane V1 rocket

Nunhead Lane V1 rocket

WWII attack on a factory which killed 24 people. The memorial gives details of the event. Our picture is a contemporary drawing of the aftermath of the disaster.

Event, Tragedy

1 memorial
Paul Ellis

Paul Ellis

Aged 25. London cycle courier for Olympic killed by a left-turning skip lorry. Driver acquitted. Andrew Behan has kindly provided this research: John Paul Ellis was born on 15 February 1964 in Ire...

Person, Cyclist, Tragedy, Ireland

1 memorial