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Arandora Star
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Arandora Star and World War II"Collar the lot !!"When Italy entered the war in June 1940, many Italians in Scotland were rounded up. Indeed it was Churchill himself who suspected a 'Fifth Column' of enemy nationals living in the UK and famously declared that they should 'Collar the lot!' Wives and mothers of most Italian families living in the UK had to fend for themselves - not only were their movements severely restricted but many of their adult males were shipped to Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or Orkney with the intention to deport them to such places as Canada and Australia. Many of the women were also later interned and were sent to towns such as Beauly, Huntly and Tomintoul.
Advert for a cruise on the ill fated liner
The tragedy of the Arandora Star The Arandora Star was built by Cammel Laird & Company of Birkenhead in 1927, operated by the Blue Star Line for cruises mostly to South America and South Africa. At the time the ship was regarded as the height of luxury and was popular with the rich and famous. She was referred to a The Wedding Cake because of her white hull and violet stripe. With the arrival of World War Two the Arandora Star was called up to Liverpool for its orders. It's main purpose was to deport prisoners of war, many bound for Canada. The Arandora Star set sail with the following passengers: Officers & Crew
174 However, the Arandora Star met its fate on July 2nd 1940 when a torpedo from a German submarine, the U-47, struck the ship, off the Irish coast. There were 734 Italians on board the ship, 486 died. Of the 479 Germans on board, 175 died. Canadian destroyer H.M.C.S. St. Laurent and later British destroyer, H.M.S. Walker arrived on the scene but sadly many were lost as they drowned not as a result of the sea itself but were caught in the scum of oil that was lost from the cruise ship. This incident caused an immediate investigation and though the British Government considered reversing their decision to transfer prisoners in this manner, it appears that many of the survivors were temporarily housed in Greenock (in a disused factory) before resuming their journey to Australia. En-route they once again suffered torpedo incidents and maltreatment from some of the guards. One of the survivors, Sgr. Baldelli recounts his experience in the form of a ballad (the translation of which I shall post on the website soon). Ironically, one of the Italian internees who perished in the Arandora Star was a Silvestro d'Ambrosio, a confectioner and restaurateur from Hamilton. Unbelievably, Silvestro lived in Scotland for 42 years, had one son in the British, and another in the Canadian Army. It is also understood that there was a significant number of people of Italian parentage who were actually born in Scotland, yet they too were on board the Arandora Star. Indeed celebrated author Joe Pieri himself had a lucky escape as he himself nearly boarded the ill fated Arandora Star, only to be told that it was full and was redirected to another ship. Today there have been countless calls to commemorate the tragic sinking of the Arandora Star with a day of remembrance. Perhaps a poignant thought on this tragedy as recalled by Bruno Sereni in They took the low road. 'Our countrymen left no memoirs, no diaries, no scribbled notes. The little that we know has been related to us verbally.' To some degree I believe that this also extends to the history of the Scotsitalian. Never again did Blue Star use the name Arandora in her fleet such was the large loss of life. Word has reached me from the Isle of Colonsay from Kevin Byrne of a recent memorial erected to the memory of the sad loss of those on the Arandora Star. See attached email below.
MEMORIAL TO ALL WHO PERISHED IN THE LOSS OF “ARANDORA STAR” The Arandora Star was sunk on July 2nd 1940, with the loss of more than 800 souls. Over 850 survivors were rescued by the Canadian destroyer HMCS “St Laurent” under Commander H.G. de Wolf but the remains of some hundreds of those who perished were never recovered. A small number were eventually carried by wind and tide to a landfall in Colonsay, including the remains of Giuseppe Delgrosso, a native of Borgo Val di Taro. He was brought ashore in a particularly beautiful corner of the island and it is hoped that a small memorial there will serve to preserve his memory and that of all who perished, including those whose only resting place is the sea. Sacred to the memory of Giuseppe Delgrosso and of more than 800 others who perished with "Arandora Star" July 2nd 1940 fo sgàil do sgiathan falaich mi Psalm 17, v. 8 This memorial has now been installed and it is to be dedicated on: Saturday 2nd July 2005 A warm invitation is extended to anyone who may wish to attend, including all who contributed towards the work and of course to all those who have a personal connection with the tragedy. On a practical note, please note that the site is fairly remote and entails a walk of more than 1 kilometre each way, across rough heather moorland. For further details of this or any other aspect please contact: Kevin Byrne, Homefield, Isle of Colonsay, Argyll PA61 7YR Telephone: 01951 200320Email: byrne@colonsay.org.uk This poignant memorial was recently unveiled on the Isle of Colonsay to those who to the perished on the Arandora Star, in memory of Giuseppe Delgrosso one who died that fateful night on July 2nd 1940.
Cliffs off Douglas Head, Isle of Man Isle of Man Prison Camps The Isle of Man was the central focus for Italians interned in the UK during World War II. I believe there still exists a number of survivors who formed the original Prisoners Committee from the camp to this day. To the left is featured a plaster cast made in the camp, the
Plaster cast made in Isle of Man prison camp
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Arandora Star memorial unveiled at Middlesborough Town Hall on July 2nd 2009
Mayor apologises over war-time tragedyJul 4 2009 by Barbara Argument, Exert from the Evening Gazette BEREAVED relatives of 13 Italian men who died in a cruel wartime purge on Teesside, have at last been given an apology. Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon said he was shocked at their painful story and offered an apology on behalf of the town and its people. It comes a long 69 years after the men - mostly in the ice-cream trade - were taken away from homes and families as ‘enemy aliens’ after Italy declared war on Britain. They were put in cells in Middlesbrough Town Hall and along with 1,300 others herded onto the liner Arandora Star bound for Canada. More than half died in the cold waters of the Atlantic when the ship was torpedoed on July 2, 1940, by a German U-boat. Now a commemorative plaque bearing the names of the Teesside men - aged between 16 and 60 - has been unveiled in a special room in Middlesbrough Town Hall by MP Sir Stuart Bell. Among them is Camillo Rea whose grandson is music legend Chris Rea. “We are here to right a huge wrong,” an emotional Sir Stuart told the 70 relatives gathered for the ceremony. He campaigned for the plaque after uncovering their story of “gross injustice” while researching a book. Mr Mallon told relatives: “Anyone reading about this will be ashamed of the part the town and some of its people played in their deaths,” he said. “What happened was a disgrace. It is hard to comprehend the trauma for these families. “This is a story of pain and suffering that has gone largely unnoticed. “I know we were fighting for freedom, but many of these people had sons in our Armed Forces.” Mr Mallon said the plaque could not compensate for the tragic loss of those “taken away never to return,” but he hoped it would recognise the men’s contribution to the Teesside community. For years the story of Middlesbrough’s lost Italian husbands, fathers, sons and brothers was kept under wraps. Sons, daughters and grandchildren at the plaque unveiling told of the hardship faced by those left behind. Now the story is being told in books, on film and on YouTube as well as a special book produced by Middlesbrough Council. Sad and happy’ event shared STEVEN Rovardi grew up listening to the tragic family story of his great-uncle Tullio Greco’s death as the Arandora Star sank. Even as a born and bred Boro youngster Steven was aggrieved at the injustice. “It is something which is quite emotional down the generations - no matter how long ago it is,” said the 31-year-old. It was only as the plaque to the Teesside victims was unveiled that he noticed his birthday is on the day the ship sank. Steven, his dad Peter and mum Pauline, were among the many Arandora Star relatives at the official plaque unveiling. Grandma Hilda, who now lives in Italy, remembers vividly the day Uncle Tullio was arrested in his Linthorpe home along with her dad Liberato, younger brother Joe and uncle Antonio who all survived. “The police would not say where they were taking the family or what happened to them,” said Hilda who remains angry to this day. “As well as losing my relatives, the family business premises were smashed up and looted.” Peter, boss of the ice-cream wafer business founded by the Grecos, said the family were happy the victims were being remembered. “The memories are painful, but it makes you understand the problems modern immigrants have in this country - and the discrimination they face,” he said. Rock star Chris Rea’s grandad Camillo was one of those arrested at his cafe opposite Albert Park and taken to Middlesbrough Police Station. Chris’s dad, Camy, still lives in Middlesbrough where he built the family ice-cream business into a local legend. Ernie Nardone, 82, who lives with wife Mary in Billingham, lost his dad Antonio on the ship. He was just 13 and remembers his mum and sisters taking clean clothes to Antonio in Middlesbrough Town Hall cells. Though he is still bitter, he is no longer angry and, without a grave for his dad, can focus on the new plaque. Patricia Walton, who now lives in Torquay, lost her dad Antonio Todisco in the tragedy. Police took him away in the night and the only letter they got from an internment camp said; “Don’t worry, everything is fine. Give the children a kiss.” “My mother Gilda was left on her own with no money to bring up three little children,” said 73-year-old Patricia. Patricia and nephew Tony Todisco, 48, said they were glad the men were being recognised. For some, like Patricia Burton from Thornton, whose grandfather Antonio Ranaldi sold ice-cream at Redcar fairground, the civic event was “sad and happy.” His son Andrew, Patricia’s dad, lives in Easterside with wife Hazel. He was fighting as a British soldier when his dad died.
Arandora Star, pride of the fleet
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Sad tale of the unlucky 13 8:43am Friday 3rd July 2009 Northern Echo reporter Graeme Hetherington tells the sad story of 13 men who where taken from their homes under the cloak of darkness and whose families never saw them again. THE night of June 10, 1940, will forever be remembered as the time the heart of the Italian community in Teesside was ripped out. Under the cloak of darkness 13 men were rounded up after wartime leader Winston Churchill ordered that all male Italians living in Britain aged 18 to 70 should be arrested. Many of the Teesside men were well-known, successful businessmen who had young families who never saw their fathers again. The harrowing events that followed scarred the men’s families for generations. Angry protests at Italian-owned businesses erupted throughout the night the men were rounded up. Hostile mobs ransacked buildings and destroyed six well-known ice cream establishments in the towns. But that was just the start of the nightmare for the 11 Italians from Middlesbrough and one each from Seaton Carew and Redcar. After being imprisoned in cells beneath Middlesbrough Town Hall they were never to return to their families. Some of the men were married to English women and had, ironically, relatives fighting for their country in the Second World War. They were transported to Liverpool where the frightened men were placed among 1,300 internees who were being shipped out to Canada on SS Arandora Star. Sadly, they never reached their destination as the boat was torpedoed by a German U-boat. The ship was bound for Newfoundland, taking Italian and German-born civilians, arrested in Britain, to a Canadian internment camp. As dawn broke on the morning of July 2, the ship was spotted by U-47 under Kapitanleutnant Gunther Prien. Using his last torpedo he sent hundreds of men to their deaths. Of the 1,673 people on board, about 850 were killed when the ship sank 75 miles off the Donegal coast. Within minutes the former cruise liner was listing, and at 7.20am it rolled over and plunged stern first into the sea. As well as the 13 Teesside casualties, the ship’s captain and 57 officers and crew, 94 military guards, and nearly 450 Italian and 240 German nationals, perished. A Canadian naval destroyer, HMCS St Laurent, arrived at the scene and managed to rescue 850 people. Some were crammed into lifeboats while others were clinging to debris. Over the following weeks bodies, lifeboats and lifejackets were washed up on the shores of North-West Ireland and the Hebridean isles of Colonsay and Oronsay. Yesterday, a plaque was unveiled to commemorate the lives of the men who died on SS Arandora Star. The names of Leandro Beltrami, Luigi Bertoia, Alessandro Borsumato, Domenico Greco, Tullio Greco, Amedeo Lucantoni, Antonio Nardone, Domenico Pontone, Antonio Ranaldi, Camillo Rea, Domenico Rea, Antonio Todisco, Guiseppe Tortolano will be preserved in the memorial forever. THE ceremony marked a tragic and poignant event from the Second World War – and one which has largely gone unrecognised. Families and relatives of many of the 13 Teesside victims were at the unveiling in Middlesbrough Town Hall, on the 69th anniversary of the sinking. One of the men onboard the doomed ship was Antonio Nardone, who ran an ice cream business in the town with his wife Antonella His son, Ernie, has vivid memories of the night his father was taken away when he was only 13. The 82-year-old, who lives in Billingham, said: “We had no warning that all Italian citizens were being rounded up and interned. They took my dad away and the next day mum and one of my sisters took clean clothes to his cell in the town hall. “We never heard from him or saw him again and life for all of us was never the same.” His granddaughter, Margaret Green, said she would love to be able to visit his final resting place. She said: “I think the plaque is very poignant. It has taken a long time for the tragedy to be recognised, but we have never found the grave of my grandfather. I would love to be able to pay my respects to him properly at his graveside.” At the unveiling ceremony, Middlesbrough Mayor Ray Mallon said: “This was a particularly unsavoury event, when the men were rounded up – a minority of people in the town could hang their heads in shame. It is difficult to put into words the depth of sorrow the people of this town feel for these men’s families. “This memorial is one of a small number in Britain, Ireland and Italy. It cannot compensate for the loss of those sons, husbands, fathers and brothers who were taken away, never to return. Hopefully, however, it will serve to recognise and commemorate their lives and achievements, their contribution to our community, and the tragic loss that was suffered when the SS Arandora Star was sunk.” The event was also attended by Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell who wrote a short story about a village ice cream man who had lost his life on the SS Arandora Star. He said: “I was stunned to discover 13 Italians living in Middlesbrough and its outreaches had also died. They were all working people who made a contribution to their community. They were taken from their homes in the middle of the night, put in prison, never to return. I intend to re-launch a campaign to get the Government to apologise for the actions that resulted in the deaths of so many men.” The plaque contains the names, date and place of birth of each of the victims, together with a short history of the sinking. A memorial booklet was produced for the families of the lost men, which contained tributes and recollections of the fateful events. Darlington nurse Katie Diamond, the great granddaughter of Domenico Greco, recalled: “After he was taken, the family hid under the stairs terrified while a mob outside tried to get to them. Who knows what would have happened if the lady next door hadn’t saved them by telling the mob they were British. The irony is that Domenico’s youngest son was fighting in the desert with the British Army.” The sad story of these 13 unfortunate men will never be forgotten and the families now have their own memorial to pay their respects.
Readers, here is a message from Raffaello, son of an internee, can you (or do you know anyone that can) identify any of the internees in the photos below? Hello - I am Raffaello Gonnella , son of Renato Gonnella interned in Canada 1940 - 45. I have loads of information about Arandora Star and Internment in Canada but would like some help with the attached photographs in identifying who else is featured in these photographs along with my father.............hope you can post them on your site and help me in my quest...... Click to enlarge
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This is a
campaign to make known the tragic events of June/July 1940
and the circumstances surrounding the loss of the Arandora
Star.
