October 2024
This research by Alfonso Pacitti has been published in the Modern Italy Journal
(October 2024 edition).
The paper critically reviews and examines the available data concerning Italians embarked on the
SS Arandora Star on 30 June 1940. It encompasses their fate on 2 July when the ship was sunk,
their subsequent journeys and the sources used to verify the conclusions. The principal aim is
to establish, as far as is possible, the precise number, correct names and other details of those
who were embarked on the ship.
A fully validated ‘Embarkation Listing’ is published for the first time.
The paper concludes that a total of 707 Italian men were embarked that fateful night.
It establishes that 442 Italians perished
(not the 446 indicated in previous publications).
265 Italians were rescued by the HMCS St. Laurent
and disembarked at Greenock, Scotland.
Of those, 200 were sent to Australia on the Dunera and 65 hospitalised
at Glasgow before being re-interned at Isle of Man.
Using the links below, you can read the thinking behind the research, the conclusions reached and,
for the first time, a definitive listing of all 707 men - 'The Embarkation Listing'.
view the latest version of the article (12 October 2024 - minor spelling correction) in a new tab
This link also contains a lot of supporting information as well as a more extensive version of the analysis work.