About the Lancastria
The Lancastria was a converted Cunard liner, used as a evacuation ship during World War Two. Her name has gone down in history for the worst loss of life at sea, a tragedy greater than the losses on the Titanic and the Lusitania put together.
Four thousand people were known to have perished with the Lancastria. The true total may never been known. The British government sealed the records due to the potential damage to morale, which meant that until recently little was known about her loss.
lest we forget
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Four thousand people were known to have perished with the Lancastria. The true total may never been known. The British government sealed the records due to the potential damage to morale, which meant that until recently little was known about her loss.
lest we forget
Lens image from freeclipartnow.com
Contents
- The Lancastria
- Operation Ariel
- The Bombing
- The Luftwaffe attacks on the survivors
- Rescuing the Survivors
- A tribute to the Lancastria
- The cover-up
- The wreck
- Not a war grave
- More about the Lancastria
- The Lonely Sea
- The Lancastria Association
- Bookmark This Lens
- Leave your comments.
- Royal Navy Heroism in World War Two
The Lancastria
4000 killed in 20 minutes
65 years of silence
Operation Ariel
The evacuation of France
The Lancastria was built as a Cunard Liner, but requisitioned at the start of the war. Originally used to carry cargo, she became a troop carrier and took part in the evacuation of Norway.
Two weeks after Dunkirk, another less well known evacuation took place. Operation Ariel was the evacuation of remaining troops and British non-combatants from occupied France. Less frantic than Dunkirk, the evacuation took place from Cherbourg and St Malo. Lancastria was pressed into service.
On 17th June 1940, the Lancastria dropped anchor three miles off the coast and waited for instructions.
Able to carry 2,200 people, the Captain was dismayed when instructed to take as many as he could fit. No count was kept of how many people pressed on board and some estimates say over 9,000 were on the ship. Civillians, troops and children were crowded on board, fleeing in front of the German advance.
At 1:50 The Lancastria was advised they could depart, but when they signalled for a destroyer escort none replied. U-boats were known to be active in the area. Overloaded and without an escort the Captain decided to wait for a second vessel to be loaded and set out together for protection.
Two weeks after Dunkirk, another less well known evacuation took place. Operation Ariel was the evacuation of remaining troops and British non-combatants from occupied France. Less frantic than Dunkirk, the evacuation took place from Cherbourg and St Malo. Lancastria was pressed into service.
On 17th June 1940, the Lancastria dropped anchor three miles off the coast and waited for instructions.
Able to carry 2,200 people, the Captain was dismayed when instructed to take as many as he could fit. No count was kept of how many people pressed on board and some estimates say over 9,000 were on the ship. Civillians, troops and children were crowded on board, fleeing in front of the German advance.
At 1:50 The Lancastria was advised they could depart, but when they signalled for a destroyer escort none replied. U-boats were known to be active in the area. Overloaded and without an escort the Captain decided to wait for a second vessel to be loaded and set out together for protection.
The Bombing
The Luftwaffe against the Lancastria
Dunkirk Scene Showing Bomber Attacking Paddle Steamer
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As the ship listed and began to sink, the crew and passengers began to try to escape. Overcrowded, with many of their exits blocked by fire, few stood any chance. Those who got onto the hull and deck of the ship were strafed by the Luftwaffe, and covered in oil from the leaking fuel. Only a handful of lifeboats could be launched and many of those overturned.
Twenty minutes later and the Lancastria had gone down, taking with her thousands who had not managed to escape the ship.
The Luftwaffe attacks on the survivors
Dropping incendiary bombs
Worse was to come. The survivors have detailed how, once the Lancastria was sinking, and the survivors were struggling in the water, the Luftwaffe began to firebomb them to set the fuel coating the sea ablaze.
Survivors on the hull, clinging to flotsam and struggling in the water were also machine gunned.
The lifeboats fared no better as they were strafed despite containing women and children, civillian non-combatants by any definition.
Rescuing the Survivors
Adrift in oil-soaked waters
While the Luftwaffe continued their attack, the other evacuation vessels began rescue attempts. The Cambridgeshire, a trawler, apparently managed to take onboard 900 survivors. Some survivors were rescued by small launches with French crews that took them to the waiting evacuation vessels.
Of the people onboard the Lancastria, only 2,500 survived.
Of the people onboard the Lancastria, only 2,500 survived.
The Sinking of the Lancastria
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A fully detailed account of the Lancastria disaster and the cover-up that followed.
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The cover-up
Preventing the survivors speaking
With the fall of France occurring at the same time, Churchill was concerned about the effects on British morale. He ordered that the records on the Lancastria be sealed, and issued a D-notice to prevent the survivors speaking.
These restrictions have in part worn off. It appears that the full record of what happened on the Lancastria will not be known until 2040, and the British Government refuses to release these restrictions. Across the Channel the French have built a monument to the Lancastria dead. None such exist in Britain.
In 2005, with 65 years passed and the first restrictions relaxed the Lancastria survivors were free to speak. The Lancastria Association was formed in Scotland, where the majority of the crew hailed from, to represent the survivors and their relatives. It has members from all over the world, New Zealand, Canada, France and Britain among the represented countries and is campaigning for a memorial to the Lancastria.
These restrictions have in part worn off. It appears that the full record of what happened on the Lancastria will not be known until 2040, and the British Government refuses to release these restrictions. Across the Channel the French have built a monument to the Lancastria dead. None such exist in Britain.
In 2005, with 65 years passed and the first restrictions relaxed the Lancastria survivors were free to speak. The Lancastria Association was formed in Scotland, where the majority of the crew hailed from, to represent the survivors and their relatives. It has members from all over the world, New Zealand, Canada, France and Britain among the represented countries and is campaigning for a memorial to the Lancastria.
The Duel: The Eighty-Day Struggle Between Churchill and Hitler
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The wreck
Latitude 47.09. Longitude 2.20
Not a war grave
No official recognition from the British Government
The site of the Lancastria is not protected as a war grave. The British Government has repeatedly refused requests for the site to be given that status. The records were unsealed in 2005 when the first petitions were put it. The request was rejected then and rejected again in 2007. It is suspected this is because the ship was overloaded and they do not want to be sued. The British givernment also refused to issue a medal to survivors.
The Scottish Assembly are fighting the decision, and talking about producing a pack for schools to ensure that the Lancastria is not forgotten. The Assembly also issued a commemorative medal for survivors.
The French Government has placed an exclusion zone around the wreck to protect it.
The Scottish Assembly are fighting the decision, and talking about producing a pack for schools to ensure that the Lancastria is not forgotten. The Assembly also issued a commemorative medal for survivors.
The French Government has placed an exclusion zone around the wreck to protect it.
More about the Lancastria
The 'RMS Lancastria ' was a British Cunard liner sunk on 17 June 1940 during World War II with the loss of an estimated 4,000 plus lives. It is the worst single loss of life in British maritime history and the bloodiest single engagement for UK forces (in terms of lives lost) in the whole conflict, claiming more lives than the combined losses on Titanic and Lusitania.
The Lonely Sea
A fictionalised retelling
A collection of Short Stories by Alistair Maclean, "the Lonely Sea" contains a retelling of the Lancastria's disaster and some witnesses' statements. It is notable as an early retelling of the story, during a time when the records were still sealed.
The Lonely Sea: Collected Short Stories
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The Lancastria Association
Leave your comments.
Have your say.
Comments about the lens or the Lancastria belong here. However if you would like to play a more active role in the campaign, here are two resources:
- The Lancastria Memorial Fund a fund to build Britian's first memorial to the Lancastria victims
- The Lancastria Association the international campaign to remember the Lancastria
submit
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Reply
- Joyce Fell Joyce Fell Nov 15, 2009 @ 2:50 pm
- My Grandfather Benjamin Ormesher was also a survivor of the Lancastria, he was a chief bedroom steward of the third class section and spent many years with the liner and In an account of the sinking in our local paper 'The Liverpool Echo' my Grandfather says he stepped of the ship from the stern just as she was sliding beneath the sea. After being picked up by a small boat, he helped drag aboard some dozen service-men who were in a bad way from the sea. He was the last survivor to arrive back in England and I would like to find out if there is a written account anywhere of his survival. I have always been puzzled as to why The Lancastria never seems to be mentioned and realise after looking on the internet that there has been a cover-up. Is there anyone who can help me find out more? Thankyou. Joyce Fell
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Reply
- tirial tirial Oct 3, 2009 @ 1:34 pm | in reply to Christine Burgess
- The Lancastria association may be able to help you.
http://www.lancastria.org.uk/Links/FAQs/faqs.html gives resources that can help trace relatives. If you have his service number or can prove you are next of kin you might be able to find out more details.
Hope this helps.
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Reply
- Christine Burgess Christine Burgess Oct 3, 2009 @ 12:34 pm
- I'm told my grandfather Stanley Allan Williams was rescued by the Lancastria, he was one of the lucky ones who made it back. The story relayed to me is that he swam for about three miles before he was picked up after the Lancastria went down. Is there any way of substantiating this story? I don't know how to research military records so have no idea what regiment he was in only that he started the war in 1939 as a private and ended it in 1945 as an acting Captain.
Regards Christine Burgess
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