deportation ship????

[daisyboo]

Does anyone know of a ship that left England in world war one with Italians on it being deported for war in italy.
this ship was torpedoed and sunk.
i have no other infomation on this.
many thanks

[suanj]

I found of a ship in WWII°:
La nave trasportava 1800 prigionieri italiani catturati in Nord Africa, sorvegliati da 160 guardie polacche ( ex prigionieri russi rilasciati) nelle celle delle stive. A bordo c’erano anche 268 militari britannici, civili paganti (80 fra donne e bambini) ed equipaggio per un totale di almeno 2.700 persone.
suanj

[daisyboo]

Hi sorry it was my mistake, it was WW2 unfortunatly i cant read italian so have no idea what the writing underneath says

[suanj]

The Laconia, (British Cunard Line 19,695 tons) luxury liner converted to a transport ship, was torpedoed and sunk by the U-156, commanded by Kptlt. Werner Hartenstein. The ship was carrying over 1,800 Italian prisoners of war captured in North Africa and guarded by 160 Polish guards, former Russian prisoners of war. Also on board were 268 British military and civilian personnel including 80 women and children. About 500 P.O.W.s were killed instantly when the torpedoes hit the prison holds. Over 200 survivors were picked up by the U-156 helped by the U-506 and U-507 and then the U-boats in turn were attacked by an American four-engined Liberator of the USAF 343 Squadron from the US base on Ascension Island. Even though they displayed a large Red Cross flag, the plane dropped three depth charges. Altogether, including the crew, 2,732 persons were on board the Laconia when attacked. A total of 1,649 lives were lost including the captain, Rudolf Sharpe (ex-Lancastria). Vichy naval craft picked up 1,083 survivors. This incident caused the German Naval Authorities to issue the 'Laconia Order' by which all U-boat captains were forbidden to pick up survivors. At the Nuremberg Trials, Grand Admiral Doenitz was accused of a war crime by signing the order, but was acquitted on that charge only to spend 11 years and 6 months in prison for other war crimes.


suanj

[Mickytom]

Hi Daisyboo!

Just joined as a newbie today, and posted my first message. Thought I'd have a browse to see what the other postings said and found yours. The ship you mean wasn't the 'Arandora Star' was it? It sailed from Liverpool on 1 July 1940, bound for Canada, and was torpedoed on 2 July, 125 miles NW of Ireland, with the loss of 486 Italian and 175 German POWs. According to family legend, my grandfather, Carlo Cordani, was supposed to have been on it, but was swapped for another prisoner at the last minute. He ended up being interned on the Isle of Man for nine months.

Let me know if you get this and if any of it has been any help.

Mike

[daisyboo]

Hi
First of all Welcome.
Thanks for the reply...........nope the ship that i was looking for was the Laconia It was leaving the UK to go back to Italy.
Good luck with your search
Sara