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'Wales Breaks its Silence...' at the National Waterfront Museum

Date:

2011-09-30

Do you know the story behind the tragic sinking of the SS Arandora Star in 1940?

Did you know that 53 Welsh-Italians lost their lives onboard this liner whilst being sent to internment camps in Canada by order of the British Government during WWII?

And did you know there is now an exhibition at the National Waterfront Museum which tells the stories of some of those who drowned and some who survived?

Until Sunday 30 October, the tragic tale of the SS Arandora Star is being brought to life within a small exhibition titled Wales Breaks its Silence…From Memories to Memorial.

The Arandora Star was taking hundreds of internees of different nationalities to Canada when she was torpedoed and sunk by a U-boat resulting in the loss of more than 800 lives. The internees who did survive were brought back to the UK and immediately shipped to internment camps in the Australian outback.

The exhibition, created by the Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales, commemorates this forgotten story. With a selection of photographs, it reflects some of the history of Italians who settled in southWales, together with personal accounts of a few survivors and emotive newspaper articles detailing the men who drowned.

Some examples of the objects on display include a large model of the SS Arandora Star - before it was painted battle grey for war duties - loaned by Mr George Hill of Swansea. Mr Hill's grandfather, Michele Di Marco, died on the Arandora Star.

Also on display is a very special terracotta sculpture of Mary Cradling the Arandora Star by artist Susanna Ciccotti who created the piece for the Arandora Star Memorial in the Metropolitan Cathedral of St David in Cardiff. This piece actually exploded in the kiln breaking the ship in two, a strange echo of the destruction of the ill-fated Arandora Star - it has now been lovingly restored by the artist.

To compliment the exhibition, Theatr na n'Og has produced a play aimed at schools and colleges based on the experiences of an Italian family living in Wales.  It follows the story of Lina, who witnesses her father being arrested and dragged from their café and taken along with 700 Italians to board the Arandora Star. The play, based on the true story, follows Lina’s quest for the truth and for her father - it is currently being performed at the Dylan Thomas Theatre in Swansea.

Speaking about the exhibition, curator, Paulette Pelosi, a member of the Arandora Star Memorial Fund in Wales said: “Both the exhibition and commemorative booklet created for the 70th anniversary last year of the sinking of the ship were made possible by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other very generous donations.

“The all-important exhibition material came from those who shared their Arandora Star family stories.  For 70 years, the people of Wales, both Welsh and Italian, for whatever reason, remained mostly silent about the tragedy.  As highly emotive stories began to be told to members of the Fund, it seemed a logical and worthy tribute for me to create the exhibition title - Wales breaks its silence… from Memories to Memorial.”

Ian Smith, Modern and Contemporary Industry Curator at the National Waterfront Museum who has worked with Paulette on the exhibition, said: “We are privileged to host this very special and moving exhibition. Until three years ago I knew nothing of this tragic event and the injustice to the Welsh-Italian community, brought about by the fear and panic of war.  Indeed, it was only after reading the exhibition panels that I realised, as a little boy I was acquainted with one of the survivors - Mr Angelo Greco who had a cafe in the Hafod, Swansea and made the best ice cream in the world!  This exhibition is a stark reminder of how quickly friends and neighbours can be turned into enemies by events far away from their own doorsteps.”

Other events organised to compliment the exhibition include:

  • Steamed Pies, Ice Cream and Broken Glass a talk on Sunday 2 October by David Evans (2.30pm) who will uncover the early café culture in South Wales and its links to the Arandora Star.
  • A special evening lecture on Monday 17 October (7pm) by Welsh National Opera’s Simon Rees who will explore Adelina Patti’s legacy, her career and recordings as well as revealing some fascinating connections with the exhibition and
  • Terry Clarke’s Italian Job (Sunday 23 October, 2.30pm), a talk where Terry will share his musical passions and highlight the influence from a love of all things Italian.

ENDS

Notes to editors

  • If members of the media would like a photo opportunity, interviews or more information, please contact Marie Szymonski on 01792 638970.
  • Wales Breaks its Silence…From Memories to Memorial will be on display at the National Waterfront Museum until 30 October 2011.
  • Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales sites is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.
  • Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales.
    • National Museum Cardiff
    • St Fagans:National History Museum
    • National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon
    • Big Pit:National Coal Museum
    • National Wool Museum, Dre-fach
    • National Slate Museum, Llanberis
    • National Waterfront Museum, Swansea
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