HMT Lancastria - World War 2 (17/6/1940)

[brianthetaff]

My uncle was:-
Pte David Emlyn Evans; 2nd Field Bakery RASC - although they have mis-spelt his name to Emelyn.

The Lancastria Association down south is disbanding due to diminishing numbers etc - is the Scottish one still active, as per the information on the website?   There is talk of trying to get the IWM to take over their archives - I shall be kept informed.

Best Wishes

[ScouseBoy]

My father was in RASC / EFI     Expeditionary Forces Institutes  in other words NAAFI.

They seem to have the support of the Scottish assembly/ Parliament in scotland.  I did attend the service in Scotland Edinburgh in June 2009,  so yes, I do think they are still active.

[brianthetaff]

For all those that read this thread:-

I have been informed that on channel 4 on sunday 14th November at 7.55 pm, the programme 4thought has Mr Henry Harding, survivor of the Sinking speaking about how the disaster affected his faith.

Personally, I am very pleased that some-one in the media has done some research and approached the Lancastria Association.

Best wishes to you all.

Brian

[DeeBoneham]

Thats very good to hear...

[ScouseBoy]

The One Show has just  had a feature on the Lancastria.   The Actor Larry Lamb presented it, and there was video clips from the 70th anniversary events at st Nazaire this last June.

[ScouseBoy]

For all those that read this thread:-

I have been informed that on channel 4 on sunday 14th November at 7.55 pm, the programme 4thought has Mr Henry Harding, survivor of the Sinking speaking about how the disaster affected his faith.

Personally, I am very pleased that some-one in the media has done some research and approached the Lancastria Association.

Best wishes to you all.

Brian

Bumping this to top of page, to remind people about programme tomorrow evening. Or would it be better to have a new thread with time and channel  of this programme?

[brianthetaff]

Whilst the story of this tragedy has been the subject of two books and ample articles on various websites, I have been trying to do a small article on the event to go with my file concerning my late uncle.
In doing so, I have started my own type of statistical analysis based on the roll of honour which is on the website for the Lancastria Association in Scotland, i.e:-  total numbers and alphabetical listing by Corp/Regiments.
Whilst this is a time-consuming exercise, I am enjoying the task as the whole list provides a different outlook rather than the bland total of "those that lost their lives" that day.
When I've finished this, I shall put a note on here - but it won't be this side of Easter.
I just thought some people would be interested in what I've decided to do.

Best Wishes
Brian

[ScouseBoy]

Probably a big reason for all the secrecy 

Under the Official Secrets Act, the report on the Lancastria cannot be published until the year 2040. If it is proved that Captain Sharpe ignored the Ministry of Defence instructions not to exceed the maximum loading capacity of 3000 persons, grounds for compensation claims could be enormous

Annie 

      Wasnt it quite the reverse of that?    Didnt the Captain say to the RN officer "We are exceeding the Board of Trade capacity regulations, I wish to stop loading any more passengers"    HMT  Lancastria was "On his Majestys Service"

[brianthetaff]

There is no way compensation could ever be claimed based on Captain Sharpe's actions in the number of people being on board.

Thousands of troops and civilians were struggling to flee France and return to UK and even money says that all the ships etc that were involved with "Dunkirk" were also overloaded.

Prior to the final withdrawal from Aden in 1967, I can assure you that every spare seat on ANY plane was snapped up, I think I was on standby for about 10 days with case packed, just waiting for the confirmation that I had got a seat, and our cases had to be deposited the day before we flew.

Hindsight is wonderful.