Arandora Star: Work begins on memorial plaque in Manchester

The approval process for the installation at St Patrick's Church in Collyhurst has been completed. The project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2027.

We are pleased to announce that the project to create a memorial plaque dedicated to the victims of the sinking of the Arandora Star has officially entered the production phase, following the completion of the approval process.

The initiative, promoted by the Manchester Italian Association together with Comites Manchester, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, aims to provide Manchester's Italian community with a permanent place of remembrance dedicated to the victims of the tragedy.

We are presenting a visualisation of the memorial plaque in its final design, which will be installed inside St Patrick's Church in Collyhurst, Manchester.

The choice of St Patrick's Church reflects its historical significance to the local Italian community. Every July, the community gathers at the church to commemorate the victims of the sinking of the Arandora Star on 2 July 1940, in which 446 Italians interned by the British authorities during the Second World War lost their lives.

St Patrick's Church is a Grade II listed building, protected under UK heritage conservation legislation. Consequently, the installation of a new memorial plaque required an extensive approval process.

The project was reviewed by the North-West Historic Churches Committee, with the support of the Diocese of Salford, Historic England and Manchester City Council.

Final approval was granted on 11 September 2026, bringing the approval process to a close and allowing the production of the plaque to begin.

The aim of this project is to leave Manchester's Italian community with a permanent place of remembrance, preserving the memory of the victims of the Arandora Star and passing their stories on to future generations.

The plaque will also serve as a tribute to the families of the victims and to all those who, over the decades, have kept the memory of this tragedy alive through annual commemorations and initiatives organised by the Italian community.

The initiative holds particular significance in 2026, the year in which Italy, through Law No. 132/2026, established 11 October as the National Day of Remembrance for the 446 Italian victims of the Arandora Star, formally recognising the importance of preserving and passing on this chapter in the history of Italian emigration.

The project is currently expected to be completed in the first half of 2027.