1953 Kefalonia Earthquake

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Earth tremors are a part of everyday life on Kefalonia and Greece is affected by them on a surprisingly regular basis. Since Pamela and I have been out in Kefalonia we have felt several earthquakes, most only lasting a second or two. They can be described as feeling like a large lorry rumbling nearby.

August 12th 1953 saw the devastating earthquake in Kefalonia which is so vividly described in Louis De Bernieres' Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Read our exclusive and poignant survivor accounts from 1953 from both Kefalonians and British Royal Navy servicemen who arrived on the island soon after to help with the crisis.

The first help to arrive came in the form of the British Royal Navy's HMS Daring, the crew of which are commemorated in Argostoli by a street named after the ship. Cid Hind was a serviceman aboard HMS Daring read his account of his experiences.

On February 1st 2006 the next generation HMS Daring was launched in Scotland.

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