The Citta Di Palermo left Brindisi (Italy) on the morning of January 8th 1916 with a number of troops for Durazzo (Albania), including a British contingment of 4 officers and 139 other ranks. When six miles NE of Brindisi the vessel ran into a minefield placed by SM UC-14 (Imperial German Navy) and foundered almost at once after striking one of the mines. Fortunately a number of minesweepers were in the vicinity and went to the rescue with great promtitude. The number on board was just over 200 of whom only half were saved.
