Garden to commemorate war tragedy

The Glasgow memorial will cost £1.5m to build

An appeal fund has been launched to build an Italian cloister garden in Glasgow to commemorate a forgotten tragedy of World War II.

Almost 700 people died when the Arandora Star was sunk off the coast of Ireland in July 1940 while transporting Italian and German internees.

Campaigners hope to raise £1.5m to construct the memorial next to St Andrew's Cathedral in Clyde Street.

Work on the garden is expected to begin during winter and last for one year.

Details of the project were announced by First Minister Alex Salmond and Archbishop Mario Conti.

Of those who died in the tragedy, 446 were Italian nationals who had made their home in Britain.

Archbishop Conti said: "The monument itself will be a fitting symbol of the great bonds of friendship between Scotland and Italy.

"This will be a garden for everyone. We plan a wall of names to remember those who have died and those who help build the cloister."

When complete, the cloister garden will feature a café, exhibition space, meeting rooms, a gathering area and a central courtyard.