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

[scotmum]

.....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.

[scotmum]

The Daily Express have an interesting article in today's edition about the Lancastria (albeit it seems a bit 'light' on the reasons as to why the event was 'hushed up' at the time).

[scotmum]

Another article in today's The Sunday Post also, in Scotland, a Parliamentary Motion has been raised concerning the Lancastria. Details can, for the time being, be viewed at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/sch/motion.result.

If you are resident in Scotland and feel strongly about the issue, please do contact your own local MSP and ask them to sign the motion.

[scotmum]

65 years ago today - just wanted to pay my respects to the families of of those who sadly lost their lives.

[Auntie San]

Hi

While I was researching my RAF uncle I to came across the sad story of the Lancastria, although my uncle was not on the Lancastria, the story is well worth looking at. A book written by Jonathan Fenby called The Sinking of the Lancastria a very good read for anyone interested or researching the second world war, food for thought.

San

[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.

[liverpool annie]

For the thousands who perished - we remember !

http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/enter.cfm?l=eng

Annie 

[liverpool annie]

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 

[Salty]

"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"


Have I missed something here? Was there a war on at the time? Surely there was.

The ship was evacuating people to get them away from the Germans in a war.
If any compensation was going to be claimed, surely it should be from them and not the Captain of the ship or whoever.

Even if such an order was made.

Yes it was a very sad episode, but to claim compensation???

Salty