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

[scotmum]

...another year has passed.

Again, just a short post in memory of those who lost their lives and to remind folks of the date just on the off chance that they have ancestors who died then and had not pursued a possible link to this tragedy.


Some of you may want to read this post by Liverpool Lass: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,238706.0.html
and support the medal petition .

[scrimnet]

Actually it was NOT as hushed up as much as the stories go...I have a series of  contemporary WW2  books called "The War in Pictures" They appear to have either been published in weekly parts by Odhams and bound after the war or are a bound edition from 1945-7.

There are several pages on the Lancastria, including photos and eyewitness accounts....

This two page spread states...

"Lancastria sunk by German Dive-Bombers.

While evacuating British troops from France, the 20,000-ton Cunard White Star Liner Lancastria - Well known to British holidaymakers as a cruising vessel - was bombed by Junkers dive bombers, set on fire and sunk off St Nazaire on 17 June. Nearly 2000 of the 5000 odd men on board mostly British soldiers and airmen were saved in spite of the fact that the ship went down within half an hour of the attack. The dramatic picture above taken from one the ships that rushed to the rescue shows men swimming for safety as she heels over preparatory to taking her death plunge"

[ADM199]

.....the 'forgotten (or perhaps, hidden)' tragedy from World War 2.

Not sure where best to post this but felt strongly about it and hoped it might help others.

In researching my husband's line, I have discovered that his grandfather ( in the Pioneer Corps at the time), died on the Lancastria.

Having not been familiar with the events surrounding the Lancastria, I did some searching and found the following very imformative (but very saddening) information:

www.royalpioneercorps.co.uk/rpc/history_lancastria.htm

www.lancastria-association.org.uk

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/768384.stm

www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwtwo/lancastria_01.shtml


So, if anyone researching a death of someone in their line on 17/6/1940 has hit a brick wall (and you know they were either a civillian in France or in the forces), it might be worth checking this possibility

Hi,
    if anyone is interested in Lancastria Casualties there is a recently opened File at The National Archives that covers the subject . WO361/5.

                       Brian

[scrimnet]

Just noticed that the pic I thought I put in in August wasn't there!

Here it is now....

[scotmum]

... and another year has passed.

Again, just a short post in memory of all the many victims who lost their lives and those remaining survivors. Also, to post a link to an article about the recent medal ceremony in Scotland, to honour both victims and survivors:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article4124573.ece

[nanny jan]

Spotted this announcement in my newspaper:

In memorium

HMT Lancastria.........Memorial Service 3.15pm Sunday June 22nd St Katharine Cree Church, London EC3

A cousin of my mum lost his life on the Lancastria.


Nanny Jan

[kangarucci]

My father was a survivor of the Lancastria disaster. After the tragedy he was sent to the Orkney Islands. He died in western Australia in 2004, this state has been his home since 1952. I have read of a Lancastria medal being struck. How does one go about applying for one. My father would have loved it to go to his only grandson, who graduated from the Royal military College in Duntroon, Canberra, ACT.

[scrimnet]

Just here...


http://www.lancastria.org.uk/News/Lancastria_medal_applications/lancastria_medal_applications.html

Not an "official" medal though...

[scotmum]

Another year has gone by and it is once again the 17th.

Posting in remembrance of all  those who tragically lost their lives and those who lived but have since died.
 
For those remaining survivors, as your memories of the day are once again brought to the fore, may you take comfort from those around you or from knowing others thoughts are with you.