Particle.news
Download on the App Store
3 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Ross Kemp Uncovers Great-Grandfather’s Wartime Survival on BBC’s 'Who Do You Think You Are?'

The actor and documentarian learns the truth behind family myths, confirming his great-grandfather’s shipwreck survival and Portsmouth heritage.

Image
Image

Overview

  • Ross Kemp appeared on 'Who Do You Think You Are?' to explore his maternal lineage, focusing on his great-grandfather Arthur 'Pop' Chalmers.
  • Genealogist Maggie Lewis debunked long-standing family lore of Irish roots, confirming four generations of Portsmouth heritage.
  • Kemp uncovered a 1943 passenger list identifying Pop as a survivor of the Duchess of York shipwreck, which sank after a German torpedo attack, claiming 89 lives.
  • Historian Sarah-Louise Miller detailed Pop’s 700-mile journey to Casablanca, where he was outfitted in a U.S. military uniform for his return home.
  • The revelations left Kemp visibly emotional, as he reflected on the resilience and legacy of his great-grandfather, now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.