Sinking of the Lancastria

[whiskin]

Thought somebody might be interested in this site I came across this afternoon --

 

www.lancastria.org.uk

 

It's an extensive site and worth a look

For those of you who don't know the story, the Lancastria was a Cunard liner converted to a troopship during WW2. Her master was Capt Rudolph Sharp, whose father and grandfather were from Yell and also worked on Cunard ships.

Lancastria's loss in 1941 was the biggest single loss of lives in maritime history

[soljey]

Lancastria's loss in 1941 was the biggest single loss of lives in maritime history

 

The Lancastria was actually lost in 1940 off St Nazaire, during the fall of France. It is certainly by far the greatest disaster in British maritime history with a loss of approximately 4000. However, in January 1945, the Wilhelm Gustloff, carrying German refugees, was sunk by a Russian submarine in the Baltic with a loss of well over 5000 - although because of a surge of refugees onto the ship in Danzig, the number could have been far greater.

 

In the last days of the European war, the Goya, also carrying German refugees was also sunk by a Russian sub off of Danzig. No accurate passenger lists had been compiled and the losses may have been about 6000.

[whiskin]

^^

I stand corrected

 

Sorry, I knew it was 1940 -- just a typo!