In early June 1940, immediately Italy entered the Second World War, all Italian male civilians between the ages of 18 and 70 years were arrested by the police and military - forcibly and hurriedly taken from their homes or their places of business - to be interned under instructions of the War Cabinet.

As is shown from the Red Cross and other reports, these internees were maltreated by the authorities and were held in inhumane conditions, without proper food, sanitary facilities and medical care. Following a decision to transport a number of internees to Canada and Australia the liner "Arandora Star" left Liverpool for Canada carrying some 1,570 Italian, German and Jewish internees.

On the morning of 2nd July 1940, off the coast of Ireland, the Arandora Star was torpedoed and sank with the loss of nearly 700 lives - which included 446 Italian Nationals who had made their permanent home in the United Kingdom.

Even today memorial masses are held annually by those Italian communities in Britain and Italy who lost loved ones. We will never forget the prejudices and hardships suffered by our fathers and grandfathers at this time, may they rest in peace.