Lancastria

Let us Remember those that losts their lives this day, and this hour, 74 years ago in what was to be Britain's worst Wartime Maritime disaster.
The sinking of His Majestys Troop ship Lancastria , at 15.48 pm local time. She took over 4,000 lives with her.

We will Remember them

 

Such a tragedy,the BEF under so much pressure to defend itself.Air cover inadequate when it counted for so much.

Always remember them when visiting the numerous cemeteries on the coast south of the Loire.Dificult to think of anything else of those black days.

 

A timely reminder, thanks Lofty1.

 

A thread about it linked here
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/52913-the-sinking-of-rms-lancastria-st-nazaire-17th-june/

Also in WW2 Day by Day database
http://ww2talk.com/forums/page/Databases/ww2_day_by_day.html/_/france-hmt-lancastria-sunk-off-st-nazaire-r276

 

On No 1's final operational patrol in France on June 17 Berry was leading a section over the docks at St Nazaire, when He 111 s came in at low level to attack troopships loading there. Berry led his section to attack but could not stop the leading bomber from scoring direct hits on the “Lancastria", setting it on fire and causing it to sink later with heavy casualties to the 4000 troops on board. Berry shot the He 111 down in flames into the river. For this action he was awarded the DFM(20.8.40)

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18844-battle-of-britain-frederick-george-berry-dfm-raf/

 

good day lofty1,sm,yesterday.02:54pm.re:LANCASTRIA.to all who lost there lives on this ship.may they rest in peace,it is pretty discusting that the goverment will not release the final report for another 30 years.it seems that the french are showing great respect for our fallen,i thank them,and thank you lofty1 for posting,regards bernard85. to all who were lost.

 

The 75th anniversary of the sinking of HMT Lancastria





From:

Ministry of Defence and The Rt Hon Earl Howe

First published:

17 June 2015

Part of:

France and United Kingdom




HMT Lancastria was sunk by enemy action on 17 June 1940, while engaged in the evacuation of British troops from France












Today (17 June 2015) marks the 75th anniversary of the UK’s greatest maritime disaster, in which more than 3,000 people lost their lives.
Two weeks after Dunkirk, HM Troopship (HMT) Lancastria was taking part in Operation Ariel, the evacuation of British nationals and troops from France. On 17 June 1940, a large number of people, mainly UK civilian refugees, embassy staff, RAF personnel and soldiers, were on board. At around 4pm, the ship was bombed by a German Ju-88 and sank within 20 minutes.
Lord Howe, the Minister of State for Defence, said:

The sinking of HMT Lancastria remains the United Kingdom’s greatest maritime disaster and, although it occurred 75 years ago this week, the sacrifice of many thousands of servicemen and civilians, and the fortitude of those who were saved that day, must never be forgotten. The MOD regards the Lancastria as a ‘military maritime grave’ and the crew are honoured by memorials in Glasgow, where the ship was built, in St Nazaire, and in the National Memorial Arboretum, among others.

The names of the merchant seamen who lost their lives are commemorated at the Tower Hill Memorial and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission maintains the graves of over 1,000 of those who perished. Additionally there is a wooden plaque in the church of St Katherine Cree in London and remaining survivors were also awarded a special medal by the Scottish Government in 2008.
As the wreck lies off the port of St Nazaire, in French territorial waters, it is not eligible for protection under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. However, on being asked in 2006, the French government gave the wreck legal protection to the same level that the UK would be able to do were that possible.
All known MOD records relating to the Lancastria are available at the National Archives at Kew.






https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-75th-anniversary-of-the-sinking-of-hmt-lancastria



http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/18844-battle-of-britain-frederick-george-berry-dfm-raf/page-2

 

George Osborne paid tribute to the memory of those lost on the Lancastria during today's PMQ's.

 

HMS Lancastria remembered today by,I would think, the Lancastria Association.

One long standing action remains on the appropriate authority

 

Memorial in St Nazaire to the Lancastria

[sharedmedia=gallery:images:24641]

TD

 

Hi,

Are there any official records of the later "Dunkirks" that reveal exactly which ships went where and did what?

Many thanks,

Tom

 

Tom, hope this is what you are after?

I have posted this before, so my apologies to those who have already seen it.

I have also compiled tables of the landings etc

Roy

 

Roy,

That was exactly what I was looking for. I'm interested in the escorts so that was perfect.

Many thanks,

Tom

 

Remembering those who perished on the Lancastria this day in 1940

 

http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/57772-calls-for-the-lancastria-loss-to-be-commemorated/

 

I dedicated the whole day on my France and Flanders page to her

https://www.facebook.com/FranceandFlanders1940/

 

The Sinking of HMT Lancastria
17 June 2015

The precise number of people on board remains unknown, but is estimated to be between 6,000 and 9,000. Lancastria was hit by bombs from German aircraft, and sank quickly. Only around 2,500 of those on board survived.

The details of the incident were kept secret at the time, for fear of harming morale. It was Britain's worst maritime disaster.

The bodies of many of those who died were washed ashore along the western coast of France, and were buried in communal cemeteries and churchyards.

Those whose bodies were never recovered are commemorated by name on memorials for those with no known grave.

Around 700 members of land forces are commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial, while missing sailors are commemorated on the Naval Memorials at Chatham, Portsmouth and Plymouth.

The Merchant Navy Memorial at Tower Hill, London, includes the names of the merchant seamen who were serving on board, and members of the air forces lost in the disaster are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.

The Sinking of HMT Lancastria

 

Just watched the latest episode of WDYTYA on BBC 1 featuring Amanda Holden. It featured her grandfather who was on the Lancastria, and survived. You will be able to catch up on BBC i player if you are interested
Who Do You Think You Are?, Series 13: 2. Amanda Holden

 

I still say St Nazaire is West of Dunkirk not South

 

I was up visiting Liverpool this weekend, mostly on Chindit business, but managed to photograph some of the memorials on Pier Head. These included one for the Lancastria.