Post by KG on Jun 18, 2018 15:45:48 GMT
The worst maritime disaster in British history occurred on June 17th, 1940 when the HMT Lancastria (formerly Cunard's RMS Lancastria) was bombed by a German air raid whilst evacuating British troops and civilians from St-Nazaire, France during Operation Ariel.
The 16,243-ton vessel sank in just twenty minutes, with thousands of people onboard (the exact number will never be known but is estimated to be be-tween 5,500 and 8,500). Only 2,477 were able to escape and be rescued by other vessels, with a death toll that some have estimated to be as many as 6,000 --- 4 times that of the RMS Titanic!
Yet, today, few remember or have even ever heard of the Lancastria, and the horror faced by those onboard. Let us never forget.
LINK
The 16,243-ton vessel sank in just twenty minutes, with thousands of people onboard (the exact number will never be known but is estimated to be be-tween 5,500 and 8,500). Only 2,477 were able to escape and be rescued by other vessels, with a death toll that some have estimated to be as many as 6,000 --- 4 times that of the RMS Titanic!
Yet, today, few remember or have even ever heard of the Lancastria, and the horror faced by those onboard. Let us never forget.
LINK