Madam, - I am trying to contact any former members of the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland who travelled on the scout pilgrimage to Rome in 1934 on the ocean liner the Lancastria.
Nearly 500 scouts joined a total of 1,200 pilgrims on a memorable trip to Gibraltar, Naples and Rome, where they had an audience with Pope Pius XI. Any photographs, cine film or memorabilia of the trip would be of particular interest.
Scouting Ireland is planning a major commemoration of the event in August 2004 at the National Campsite, Larch Hill, outside Dublin.
Students of the second World War will know the Lancastria was subsequently attacked off the coast of France in 1940 while acting as a troop carrier and sank with the loss of nearly 5,000 lives.
If you can be of any assistance please contact me at the address below. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN LAWLOR,
c/o Scouting Ireland
Headquarters,
Larch Hill,
Tibradden,
Dublin 16.