It was exactly 74 years ago today, at roughly 7.30 a.m. on 2 July 1940, that the Arandora Star was sunk by a German U-boat just 400 miles off the northwest coast of Ireland.
We remember all those who were on board being deported to Canada, but especially those from the Casalattico area. Of the 865 who drowned, those who lost their lives that morning from Casalattico included Giuseppe Forte (son of Pancrazio, London), Antonio Fusco (Belfast), Antonio Marsella (Bonnybridge), Filippo Marsella (Wishaw) and Giuseppe DiVito (Crossgates).
Of the 800 survivors we also remember Rocco Forte (Worthing), and brothers Adolfo and Guido Felloni, who were put on SS Dunera just 8 days later for a cruel 57 day journey to Australia.
If you do not know the story, then I urge you to find out more about the Arandora Star disaster of 2nd July 1940.
Hi Rosanna,thanks for your email of the family tree. It’s a shame about all the Italians that drowned on that ship.i heard the Germans thought they were carrying arms, not sure if that has been proven. Of course knowing the Germans ,they would’nt have needed much of an excuse to sink it. I knew about Jean marsella’s husband but didn’t know about the one from crosssgates and Ireland.Anything else you find out you can gmail me.take care Rico x