Young JFK’s letters shared to mark 80th anniversary of sinking of the Athenia

Future president visited Glasgow to meet US survivors

Letters and telegrams of thanks from a young John F Kennedy to Glasgow have been shared to mark the 80th anniversary of the sinking of the TSS Athenia.

The former US president, who was assassinated in 1963, visited Glasgow aged 22 to meet American survivors after the Athenia was attacked on the day the Second World War broke out on September 3 1939.

To mark the 80th anniversary of the attack, Glasgow City Archives has shared details of a disaster fund file set up to help the victims, which includes letters and telegrams of thanks to the city from the young John F Kennedy, his father Joseph – who was then US ambassador to the UK – and President Franklin Roosevelt.

It also holds photographs, letters and newspaper clippings detailing the fundraising effort and how the city and individuals helped all those caught up in the tragedy.

Glasgow Museums chairman Councillor David McDonald said: “Reading these telegrams and looking at the photographs is like stepping back in time.

“We can see from the warm language used just how grateful the US is to Glasgow.”

The Athenia was outbound from Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast to Montreal with more than 1,000 passengers on board – including around 300 Americans – when it was torpedoed by German submarine U-30.

It was the first maritime casualty of the war, claiming 122 lives, including 30 of whom were from the USA, Glasgow Museums said.

The disaster fund was started by the Lord Provost of Glasgow Patrick Dollan, who invited Ambassador Kennedy to travel from London to Glasgow.

JFK arrived in Glasgow on Thursday September 7.

PA. A letter from John F Kennedy to Lord Provost Patrick Dollan, with whom he is pictured.