Shining example of humanity in war will be celebrated in Kerry today

TODAY a memorial will be unveiled in Ventry to an incident that made international headlines 70 years ago. A German submarine, the U35, dropped off 28 Greek seamen at Ventry on October 4, 1939.

On seeing the U-boat a couple of days earlier the Greek seamen had panicked and abandoned their ship, taking to lifeboats in heavy seas off the southwest coast of England. One of the lifeboats overturned, throwing the men into the sea, but the crew of the submarine rescued them.

The other crew members were then invited on board before the U35 sank their ship, the Diamantis, which was bound for England. The Greeks were offered beds and told to make themselves comfortable. They were given cigarettes, tea and other refreshments. They later expressed appreciation for the way they were treated.