Thursday 17 June 2010 is the 70th Anniversary of the worst sea disaster Britain has ever suffered, it is estimated that 6,5000 men and women died on that day in 1940. The Cunard Liner, LANCASTRIA, was bombed and sunk by the Germans while evacuating troops off the beach by St Nazaire, France.
While people were struggling in oil covered waters, the German s bombed the sea with flares and incindiries to set fire to the oil and oil soacked survivors.
There were around 9,000 people on board when she was hit and only 2,500 were saved. Many Merseyside people died there.
The survivors were taken to Plymouth and sworn to secrecy, Churchill put a ban on any news of the disaster so the Germans would not use it for propaganda. The ban on the news is still inforce today.
Billy McGee, a Champion of all things Mercantile published the list of the dead crewmen on another site, Most are from Liverpool.
All the other dead would be Servicemen from the Army and Royal Air Force.
here is the List also the link to THREE UTUBE VIDEOS.
Lancastria 70 years on
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDOE0zpAxXA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IPhF...eature=related
www.lancastria.org.uk.
Tower Hill Memorial. LONDON. Panel 63 RMS LANCASTRIA.
ADAMS, Steward, THOMAS A., S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 36.
AMOS, Steward, THOMAS, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 56. Husband of Miriam Amos, of Liverpool.
AUSTIN, Steward, JAMES, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 48.
BOYLE, Sailor, MICHAEL, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 19. Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Boyle, of Liverpool.
BRADLEY, Sectionman, HERBERT, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 43. Husband of Alice M. Bradley, of Liverpool.
BRISCOE, Chief Steward, NORMAN LORD, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 49. Son of John and Annie Briscoe, of Liverpool; husband of Alice Mary Briscoe, of Meols, Cheshire.
CLARKE, Barkeeper, THOMAS LONSDALE, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 44. Husband of Ada Frith Clarke, of Troon, Ayrshire.
COFFEY, Sectionman, JOSEPH, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 57.
COMAN, Assistant Steward, WILLIAM J., S.S. Lancastria (London). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 40. Husband of Margaret Coman, of Prestatyn, Flintshire.
CONNOR, Sailor, ALBERT MICHAEL, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 23. Son of Charles W. and Margaret J. Connor, of Anfield, Liverpool.
CROFT, Trimmer, ERNEST JAMES, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 35. Husband of Margaret Croft, of Waterloo, Liverpool.
CUNNINGHAM, Assistant Steward, ALBERT, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 23. Son of John and Elisebeth Cunningham; husband of Hilda Cunningham of Kirkdale, Liverpool.
DARLEY, Deck Boy, JOHN FREDERICK, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 17.
DEVLIN, Greaser, THOMAS, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 55. Husband of Mary Devlin, of Greenock, Renfrewshire.
DINGLE, Porter, ROBERT, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 30.
DUCK, Steward, EDWARD DOUGLAS, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 55. Son of Charles Ready Duck and Anne Jane Duck.
DUNCAN, Senior Second Engineer Officer, JAMES, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 51. King's Commendation for Brave Conduct. Husband of Rita Duncan, of Crosby, Liverpool.
DUNMORE, Waiter, HERBERT RICHARD, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 53. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Herbert Dunmore; husband of Hannah F. Dunmore, of Liverpool.
EADES, Steward, JOHN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 39.
FRASER, Chief Master at Arms, ALEXANDER IRVINE, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 34. Husband of Annie Kathleen Fraser, of Liverpool.
FRODSHAM, Steward, THOMAS HENRY, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 46. Son of John Henry and Sarah Frodsham; husband of Margaret Helena Frodsham, of Birkenhead.
GILBERT, Steward, HENRY, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 54. Husband of May Gilbert, of Liverpool.
GREEN, Assistant Cook, JOSEPH, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 20. Son of Albert and Alice Green, of Orrell, Bootle, Lancashire.
HAWES, Able Seaman, ARTHUR LAWSON, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 63.
HAYDEN, Boatswain, WILLIAM, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 51. Husband of Harriet Hayden, of West Derby, Liverpool.
HAYNES, Assistant Steward, JAMES, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 23. Son of James and Mary E. Haynes, of Birkenhead.
HILL, Surgeon, JOHN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 44. Son of James and Jessie Gordon Hill; husband of Grace Leisk Hill, of Glasgow. M.B., Ch.B., M.D.
HUGHES, Waiter, JAMES, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 44. Son of Thomas R. and Hannah Hughes; husband of Sarah A. Hughes, of Liverpool.
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ILLIDGE, Waiter, HARRY A., S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 57.
IMLACH, Seaman, JACOB COWIE, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 30. Son of William and Maggie Jean Cowie Imlach, of Portessie, Banffshire.
JACKSON, Steward, HARRY, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 55.
KELLY, Steward, JAMES ERNEST, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 49.
KEY, Captain's Steward, STANLEY LOUIS FREDERIC, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 34.
MAJOR, Greaser, ROBERT GEORGE, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 38. Son of Robert and Sarah Ann Major; husband of Lilian Rebecca Major, of Walton, Liverpool.
MARSHALLSAY, Assistant Barkeeper, JOSEPH, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 62. Son of Edward and Margaret Marshallsay; husband of Edith Maud Marshallsay, of Formby, Lancashire.
MASON, Trimmer, JOHN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 50.
MOTTERSHEAD, Assistant Cook, WALTER, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 31. Husband of Nellie Mottershead, of Tranmere, Birkenhead.
McCAW, Storekeeper, SAMUEL ALEXANDER, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 30.
McGORRIN, Cook, OWEN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 55. Husband of Edith McGorrin, of Dingle, Liverpool.
OLIVER, Steward, THOMAS JOHN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 57.
OWEN, Assistant Baker, FREDERICK, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 52.
PEARSE, Chef, JOSEPH, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 51. Son of John and Anne Pearse; husband of Elizabeth Pearse, of Liverpool.
PORTER, Junior Assistant Purser, CUTHBERT EDGAR, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 31.
READ, Chief Butcher, THOMAS DOUGLAS, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 53. Husband of Charlotte Read, of Liverpool.
ROBERTS, First Officer, RICHARD GORONWY, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 54.
ROGERSON, Steward, ARTHUR, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 60.
ROWE, Porter, THOMAS, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 58.
RYAN, Waiter, EDWARD JOHN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 23. Son of Edward and Louisa Ryan, of Everton, Lancashire.
SHEPHERD, Dispenser, FRED, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 36.
SLATER, Steward, WILLIAM H., S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 48.
SMITH, Steward, JOSEPH EDWIN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 37. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Smith; husband of Helen D. Smith, of Douglas, Isle of Man.
SNOWDON, Steward, JOHN HERBERT, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 61. Son of John and Kathleen Snowdon; husband of Florence Snowdon, of Liverpool.
STANTON, Assistant Steward, PATRICK, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 61.
SURTEES, Ordinary Seaman, ROBERT, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 18. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kinmond Surtees, of Bootle, Lancashire.
TAYLOR, Steward, THOMAS, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 26.
TEMBY, Porter, EDGAR, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 60.
TILSTON, Able Seaman, GEORGE HENRY, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 30. Son of Edwin and Elizabeth Tilston; husband of Violet Tilston, of Katwijk-Am-Zee, Holland.
WALSH, Fireman, PATRICK J., S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 33. Son of James Peter and Ellen Walsh, of Liverpool.
WALTON, Trimmer, JOSEPH, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 27. Son of Joseph and Ellen Walton, of Liverpool.
Buried Ashore
McDONALD, Steward, JOHN, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 60. Buried Pornic War Cemetery.
RICHARDSON, Assistant Butcher, WILLIAM, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 23rd January 1947. Age 39. Son of Patrick and Mary Richardson, of Liverpool; husband of Marion Richardson, of Liverpool. Buried Liverpool (West Derby) Cemetery
ROGERS, Steward, HERBERT, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 48. Buried L’Aiguillion-Sur-Mer Communal Cemetery.
RUMNEY, Third Officer, REGINALD GORDON, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 45. Buried Pornic War Cemetery.
SMITH, Steward, WILFRED GEORGE, S.S. Lancastria (Liverpool). Merchant Navy. 17th June 1940. Age 29. Buried Escoublac-La-Baule War Cemetery.
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"On all the oceans white caps flow, you do not see crosses row on row, but those that sleep beneath the sea, rest in peace for your country is free"
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