80th Anniversary of the Sinking of HMT Lancastria

[brianthetaff]

Whilst there has been many comments on the UK's Biggest Maritime Disaster, which has always been the best kept secret of WWII, 17 June 2020 is the 80th Anniversary.
This year, due to the Coronavirus situation, events have been cancelled to commemorate the event.
Since 2014, there have been so many commemorations for all the major battles of WWI - and rightly so - yet this disaster with 3000+ casualties happened shortly after Dunkirk and is never mentioned.
Those of us with a family connection will always remember, so please spare a thought on 17 June 2020. The people of St Nazaire have held an Annual Service on the date for decades for which I've always been grateful for.

[GrahamSimons]

Because it was kept secret for so long, this sinking has never reached the level of public knowledge or interest that others with much less loss of life, such as Titanic, have done.

[brianthetaff]

80 years ago on this day, Britain's Worst Maritime Disaster happened. Due to the current situation, events have been cancelled/postponed that would mark this anniversary. Yet another year goes by and still there are people only learning about it now.
RIP to the untold number of casualties which included my uncle - 21 year old Pte David Emlyn Evans of 2 Field Bakery, R.A.S.C. who is buried in Pornic, France.

[dowdstree]

Thank you for reminding us of this terrible event.

I had heard of the Lancastria but had no idea of the details of the sinking until today but have just read up on it.

We must never forget these men RIP

Dorrie

[Skoosh]

St Valery, post Dunkirk, rarely mentioned either, the guys fought till the ammo was finished & surrendered to Rommel. Anniversary this month!

Skoosh.