Glasgow, Scotland, May 16, 2011 / 11:11 am
A new cathedral cloister garden dedicated to the more than 100 Scots-Italians who died in a wartime tragedy has been officially opened by Glasgow’s archbishop. The memorial remembers those who were were killed on board the cruise ship ‘Arandora Star’ in 1940.
Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow, himself a Scots-Italian, says the new monument-- an interactive installation-- is designed to encourage people to “reflect on the great mysteries of life, death and resurrection.”
“What people will see and experience on a visit to the garden is a result of the generosity of today's Scots-Italian community who raised the funds to create the installation,” said the archbishop as the only remaining survivor of the tragedy, 91-year-old Rando Bertoia, listened to his words.
Most Italians living in the U.K. were detained after the outbreak of the Second World War. The ‘Arandora Star’ had been taking such internees to Canada. Off the coast of Ireland, though, it was struck by a German torpedo. About 100 Scots-Italians were among the 800 victims of the attack.