Arandora Star was one of the best-known ships in the world. Built in 1927 by Cammel Lairds Shipyard, the ship accommodated 400 guests in luxury first class surroundings which included a Louis XIV style dining room, ballroom, saloons, swimming pool, promenade and games decks. Guests relaxed in the sun or participated in games and competitions during the day, whilst being wined and dined at night in the company of the ship’s captain.
Just two years later, when the war broke out in 1939 the ship, under the command of Captain E.W. Moulton was on passage to New York. On her return to England she was used for the transportation of troops under escort of various battleships.
She left Liverpool for the last time on June 29th 1940, to embark a large number of German and Italian internees and some prisoners of war destined for St. Johns, Newfoundland. These internees primarily consisted of enemy aliens, but during the first two years of the Second World War other aliens were also interned, including refugees who had fled Nazi Germany to escape persecution. In all she carried 1,673 people, including 174 crew, 200 military guard, 1213 German and Italian internees and 86 prisoners of war.
The weather was fine when the ship, unescorted, reached the open sea. All went well until 6.15 a.m. on the 2nd July, when the she was suddenly torpedoed by a German U-47. The torpedo struck and the engine-room was flooded. Two engineer officers and all the men below deck were either drowned or killed in the blast. The turbines were completely wrecked. The generators were put out of action, which flung the ship into complete darkness; and all communications between the bridge, engine-room and wireless office were destroyed.
The rescue operation was greatly hampered by the prisoners on board and whilst some life rafts were lowered they were to become greatly overcrowded. At about 7:15 am with the ship about to sink, Captain Moulton and his senior officers walked over the side as the water came up to meet them. At 07.20 a.m. the Arandora Star rolled over, flung her bows vertically in the air and went to the bottom, carrying many people with her.
In the tragic disaster, Captain E. W. Moulton and 12 other officers, together with 42 of the crew lost their lives. 37 military guard were drowned, with 470 Italians and 243 Germans, a total death roll of 805 of the 1,673 carried. This disaster led to vigorous protests about the British internment policy, which in response to this disaster was changed to internment of enemy aliens in camps in Britain only.
Such was the loss of life, the name Arandora was never again used by the Blue Star Line.
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