A MEMORIAL is to be unveiled to North-East victims of a Second World War friendly fire tragedy.

Forty-five men from the Durham Light Infantry, captured at Torbruk during the African campaign in 1942, were among the men who died when the Italian ship SS Scillin was sunk by a British submarine.

The Scillin was one of six ships carrying prisoners that were destroyed during the campaign, killing more than 2,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen.

But Brian Sims, whose father, William, was one of the Scillin victims, says the sinkings were not tragic accidents of war.

During his extensive research, he found documents in the Public Records Office that reveal the British authorities knew from intercepted radio messages that the ships were carrying prisoners.

He said that the sinkings were part of the elaborate effort to cover up the fact that the British had cracked German and Italian secret codes.

A plaque commemorating the victims of all the sinkings will be unveiled, and a tree planted, at the National Arboretum near Burton, Stafforshire, on Tuesday, May 13.

Mr Sims, of Lincolnshire, whose father was in the Royal Signal Corps and was 30 when he died, said the Allies went to great lengths not to compromise their intelligence, known as Ultra.

He said: "The evidence is circumstantial, but it is total and it is damning."

He believes the sinkings may have helped shorten the war because they helped protect Enigma.

He said: "It has been hidden too long but the veil will be lifted. Finally, these guys will be remembered."

He and another victim's son, Ron Graham, who was brought up in Gateshead, are paying for the memorial.

Mr Graham's father, Robert, served as a sapper and was 25.