HI,

My father was one of the survivors Robert Lamont he went to a hospital in Algeirs and from there was given leave to go home to Kilwinning in Scotland. His best friend A chap called Mooney perished during the sinking. My fathers interpretation of that event was that the Italians attempted to set fire to the oil whilst survivors were in the water. He was picked up and sent to Algeirs. He later served at HMS Raven middle Wallop and finally in the Pacific where his last ship was the Carrier the Indi. He died a couple of years ago but never ever forgot his mate Mooney and swore to his last day he would never set foot in a canoe after the war and he never did.