Kiwi perspective to a now forgotten friendly fire incident in WW2. Sinking of the Italian vessel ‘Nino Bixio’ in the Mediterranean August 1942, by British submarine ‘Turbulent’. The ‘Nino Bixio’ and her sister ship Sestriere were  packed with over 6,000 Allied prisoners of war from the North African Campaign. The attack by the Turbulent upon the Nino Bixio resulted in the deaths of 336 Allied prisoners. New Zealand (2nd Division) death toll being 117.  

Were those deaths preventable? Is it possible to proportion blame? Let’s look at this from all angles. 

Footnote: If you had a relative on board either the ‘Nino Bixio’ or ‘Sestriere’ on this ill-fated journey. We’d love to hear from you in the YT comments section. This after-all was a misadventure that affected Australians, British, Free French South Africans and Indians troops. Trapped below. Or who took their chances in the waters. Weren’t rescued in time.  

Keeping my amateur podcast going is dependent on listeners.      

 Please consider spending another 10 minutes on another similar event from World War One. The sinking of the Marquette. https://youtu.be/s0svttH0Yao

 Note: Thanks to RNZ for preserving and sharing the audio clip used.     

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