A plaque will be unveiled today on Bell Island to mark the 80th anniversary of the German U-boat attacks on iron-ore carriers at Bell Island.
The ore mined at Bell Island was a vitally important part of the war effort. German U-boats targeted the carriers in an attempt to disrupt the supply of iron to both Canada and Great Britain.
The SS Saganaga and SS Lord Strathcona were sunk while at anchor in Conception Bay on September 5, 1942.
Two months later, torpedoes fired from German U-boats sank the SS Rose Castle and the PLM 27 and caused extensive damage to the Scotia Pier.
SS Rose Castle via heritage.nf.ca
The attacks claimed the lives of 70 men and the wrecks remain a revered and popular dive site among divers.
Today’s event will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Bell Island Community Museum. VOCM News will be there.
