SS ARANDORA STAR, OUTLINE BIBLIOGRAPHY
SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND FURTHER READING
Whilst researching the story of the SS Arandora Star and the events of 2 July 1940 for this website, I have obviously had to delve into a wide variety of sources for information. For anyone who would like to read further and find out more for themselves, I thought that it would be useful to list all the sources to which I have referred.
Needless to say, I am keen to receive copies of additional materials to which readers may have access and I am also willing to share any information/documents of which I have copies.
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES - KEW, LONDON
As you can imagine, this is a veritable treasure trove of original documents, however they do not have sufficient staff to carry out research assignments for members of the public. Therefore, a visit to the archives is advisable or otherwise it is necessary to employ the services of a professional researcher, once you have established exactly what you are looking for and where to find it. Documents in the National Archives can be found on line at:
http://www.yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=SS_Arandora_Star
Those which I have found to be particularly interesting and useful are as follows:
The Arandora Star Embarkation Lists, [Catalogue Reference FO 371/25210] - this gives details of all foreign nationals, which internment camp they came from and whether they survived or were lost. As mentioned in previous sections however, this list contains a number of inaccuracies.
Reports - Sinking of the SS Arandora Star, [Catalogue Reference s FO 916/2581 and ADM 199 2133] - a number of reports were compiled by survivors and these give a first hand, detailed and fairly accurate account of the final journey of the SS Arandora Star including the torpedo attack, the evacuation of the vessel and the rescue of survivors. The main reports were compiled by:
1. Chief Engineer R. C. Connell of the SS Arandora Star
2. Chief Officer F. Brown of the SS Arandora Star
3. Major J. S. Drury of the Military Guard
4. Commander H. G. de Wolf of the HMCS St Laurent
In addition to these, a report headed 'Arandora Star, Conditions on Board and the Disaster' was made by Captain F. J. Robertson - Official Interpreter to the Italians. This is a very detailed and interesting report which describes what conditions were like for the internees on board and what happened during and after the sinking. At the end of the report, Captain Roberts make some personal observations about the organisation on-board and the events which, in his view, contributed to the considerable loss of life.
SS Arandora Star Crew List - a handwritten, signed document, giving details of all the crew members. In addition there is a typed list giving details of all those crew members who perished. I believe these documents originated in the National Archives however, my copies, including the Robertson report, came via third parties.
THE COMMONWEALTH WAR GRAVES COMMISSION
The website of the CWGC allows an online search of the data base by individual or cemetery. On request, they can provide details of casualties for a particular event, date or regiment. The list of crew casualties they provide matches the list previously referred to and this gives details of 56 men, whose names are inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial to the Missing in London . In addition, it includes details of one crew casualty buried on the Scottish island of Coll and another commemorated on the Halifax memorial in Canada . The Non-Crew list they provide gives details of 31 casualties from the military guard, and it is this which is believed to be inaccurate as it only contains details of those whose names are inscribed on memorials to the missing at Brookwood and Dunkirk . None of the rest of those who perished, some of whose bodies were recovered and buried, are identified on the data base as SS Arandora Star casualties. Currently there are moves afoot to rectify this. Finally, the CWGC hold records of civilian casualties and these contain the names and details of seven Italian internees whose graves they have responsibility for.
BOOKS
Whilst researching the information presented on this website the following books have proved to be especially interesting and informative:
Balestracci, Maria Serena , 2006, Arandora Star una tragedia dimenticata , Millenium Editrice, Parma , Italy . This is now in its second edition and the text is in Italian only, however there are plans to publish a new, extended, bi-lingual [Italian and English] version in July 2008. More details will follow.
Gillman, Peter and Leni , 1980, 'Collar the Lot !' How Britain Interned and Expelled its Wartime Refugees, Quartet Books, London . ISBN 0 7043 2244 7. This is currently out of print, but may still be available through a library or a specialist second-hand book shop.
Hickey, Des & Smith, Gus , 1989, Star of Shame, the Secret Voyage of the Arandora Star , Madison Publishing, Dublin. ISBN 1 87086 201 5. This is currently out of print, but may still be available through a library or a specialist second-hand book shop.
Hughes, Colin , 1991, Lime Lemon and Sarsaparilla - The Italian Community in South Wales 1881 - 1945 , Serena Books, Bridgend. ISBN 1 85411 083 7. This book can be ordered directly from the publishers in South Wales at www.serenbooks.com
N.B. If anyone has read or heard of any other books which they feel are of interest and relevance, please let me know and I will happily add them to the list.
NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND JOURNALS
Whilst national newspapers such as The Times reported the events of 2 July 1940, they tend not to contain much accurate or detailed information. Some of the descriptions are based on the reports from one or two survivors and are not necessarily a true reflection of what actually happened. National newspaper reports can be accessed through library collections and some are available on line. Local newspapers such as those in Ireland , reported mainly on the recovery of casualties and wreckage from the vessel. To access these, a visit to a library in the area concerned would be necessary.
In the Christmas 2004 issue of Your Family Tree magazine is an article entitled 'The Sinking of the Arandora Star'. The author, David Dyas, tells the story of his relative Peter Evans, who was trying to discover more about his stepfather, who had been 'Lost at Sea' in World War II. Initial research through the internet provided some of the information and their investigations eventually led them to the tiny Church of Ireland Cemetery in Ardara, where they found a simple, granite headstone bearing the name of Sergeant M. Evans, Hertfordshire Regiment.
The full story behind the arrest, internment and tragic death of Giuseppe Degrosso, who was found and buried on Colonsay, is the subject of an article by author Alfio Bernabei. Entitled 'A Gold Watch is Missing', it was published in Italian Scottish Identities and Connections, Notebooks of the Italian Cultural Institute, Edinburgh. Notebook 15, 2001.
WEBSITES
Below are listed some of the main websites which provide details of the SS Arandora Star, the events of 2 July 1940 and the men who were lost. Once again please let me know if you have come across any others and I will add them to the list.
The Arandora Star Campaign
Blue Star Line - The 'Arandora Star'
The Last Voyage of the Arandora Star [Paddy McClure]
St. Peter's Italian Church
www.stpeters-italian-church.org.uk
The Arandora Star
www.thearandorastar.com This website is currently under construction .
Ancoats, Little Italy of Manchester
The Sinking of the SS Arandora Star [Bruno Fehle]
The Anglo Italian Family History Society - mainly for contacts
FILMS/TELEVISION PROGRAMMES
PERSONAL CONTACTS AND THANKS
Finally, it would be impossible to name and thank all those who have helped and continue to help with what is an on-going project of remembrance, however I would like to mention and express my appreciation to the following: Kevin Byrne of Colonsay, Maria Serena Balestracci of Florence and Michael McRitchie of Northern Ireland - not only for the information they have provided, but more importantly, for all the encouragement and support they have given.
To all those who have contacted me through the Colonsay Website - many thanks for all your letters, emails and telephone conversations and in particular for sharing the details, stories and memories of your loved ones who were lost under such tragic circumstances. It is my sincere hope that this website will go some way towards being an appropriate, lasting memorial to all of those who perished on the SS Arandora Star on 2 July 1940.
Alan Davis April 2008
We hope that relatives of those who were lost will contact us with additional information in order to ensure that the lists are accurate and as up to date as possible. Contact details are given below.
For further details or to offer additional information please contact Alan Davis c/o byrne[AT]colonsay[DOT]org[DOT]uk using Arandora Star as the subject line.
This site is owned by Kevin Byrne and every attempt is made to respect copyright; feel free to link to this site but please do not copy material for republication without prior consent. Wherever possible, such consent will be given happily and without charge.