One of the 'Russian Pacitti'

Researcher Alfonso Pacitti provides the details of the journey of Alessandro Pacitti, one of the 'Russian Pacitti' which includes his memories of the sinking of the Arandora Star and his rescue.

Alessandro Pacitti would survive not one, but two ships which were torpedoed and sank.

Alessandro Pacitti was born in St Petersburg, Russia on the 27th December 1908. His family ties were in the Frosinone province of Italy. At the time of his arrest on the 10th June 1940, he was living with his parents at 62 George Street, Glasgow, Scotland.  His occupation was noted as café proprietor.

Alessandro departed from Sydney, NSW onboard the SS Waroonga on the 29th January 1943. The SS Waroonga was destined for Liverpool, England via Panama and New York, USA. On the 4th April 1943, the SS Waroonga was torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Survivors were transferred to SS Joel AR Poinsett and arrived in Londonderry, Ireland on the 9th April 1943. He was transferred to the Isle of Man on the 13th April 1943.

UK Italian internees Giuseppe Crolla, Giovanni Gazzano, and Alessandro Pacitti had survived the sinking of the SS Waroonga as did UK German internees Stefan Vajda and Jakob Steinhof. Internees Hans Baer, Louis Biber, Ludwig Gelles, Lazarus Ressler and Max Koenigsberg perished.

On the 7th June 1943, Alessandro was released from internment and allocated to work with the ILB (a labour battalion?). 

On the 16th June 1990, Alessandro along with 21 other survivors of the Arandora Star tragedy was bestowed the honour of Cavaliere al Merito della Repubblica Italiana.

He died in Glasgow in 1991.

Grave of Alessandro Pacitti (Alfonso Pacitti)