Up went the bows and down she went.. The Sinking of the Lancastria Stan Scislowski On Monday, June 17, 1940, the Cunard Liner, Lancastria, pressed into war service as a troopship was anchored . The list of shipwrecks in June 1940 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during June 1940. A camera crew onboard the Scharnhorst filmed the engagement, and the Gloriouss sinking, which you can see here. Once the ship was on its way in a convoy escorted by vessels from the Royal Navy Colin read books in the library and played games on deck. World War II: The cargo ship (7,340 GRT) was bombed and sunk off Le Havre, France by Luftwaffe aircraft. The SS Athenia was the first ship sunk by Germany in World War II and resulted in the death of 118 civilians. The evacuees were in several western French ports including Lorient and St. Nazaire on the Loire River. I could see people dying around me. The comments below have not been moderated. This is the story of Beryl Myatt, a child evacuee during the Second World War. From somewhere out there in the deep, a German U-boat had fired a torpedo directly into the ship, just below the childrens sleeping quarters. (RIN SS) is sometimes credited with sinking Rainbow on Oct. 15. In 1940, these included Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, Gloster Sea Gladiator fighters, as well monoplane Blackburn Skua monoplane bomber/fighters. Of the 38 people in his boat, only 14 remained. I thought: Wake up, Colin! SS Express was a Type C3-E cargo ship of American Export Lines that was sunk by Japanese submarine I-10 in June 1942 in the Indian Ocean. Sbastien Roblin holds a masters degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. The mine exploded sinking the vessel. The only sound was from a ball bearing hed placed in his bedside drawer, which was sliding ever more frantically from side to side. World War II: The water carrier (107 GRT) was scuttled at Lorient, France. She once described him affectionately as a big child. Kenneth Lewis was only 14 years old, His Brother Raymond 15. World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled in, World War II: The tanker (4,995 GRT, 1913) was partially sunk by British commandos in the, World War II: The tanker (6,101 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (6,470 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The trawler (203 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the. At 19, he joined the Royal Navy for his National Service. All six crew survived. World War II: The passenger ship (2,113 GRT, 1908) was bombed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea (. There, he attended a local school until it was evacuated to Cornwall. Colin acted quickly. At 4 p.m. on June 8, 1940, the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious was cruising west across the Norwegian Sea towards the British naval base of Scapa Flow when her lookout spotted two grey blips over a dozen miles away on the horizon. World War II: The cargo ship (7,886 GRT, 1938) was scuttled at Gibraltar to prevent capture by British forces. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (464 GRT) was bombed and sunk at Dunkerque, France, by Luftwaffe aircraft. The ship, carrying more than 400 passengers and crew, included a precious cargo of 90 evacuees under a scheme. World War II: The cargo ship (2,155 GRT, 1902) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (6,694 GRT, 1917) was bombed and damaged in the English Channel off. The maritime disaster resulted in the deaths of 51 people46 from the Andrea Doria and 5 from the Stockholm. When dawn broke, Bess and Beth were still somehow clinging onto their upturned lifeboat along with two men. Captain Sharp estimated 5,500, but one Royal Engineer officer was told that there were more than 7,200 persons aboard. In seconds, they were gone. Five minutes later, in one of the longest-range hits in naval history, the Scharnhorsts third volley screamed over fifteen miles to slam straight into the Gloriouss flight deck, blasting open a huge hole that rendered it unusable and knocking two Swordfish bombers into the water. The site of the sinking is not an official War Grave safeguarded by The Protection of Military Remains Act of 1986 because the British have no jurisdiction over the French territorial waters where Lancastrias wreck lies, but the French government has provided an appropriate level of protection to the site, prohibiting diving on the wreck, for example. She was later salvaged by the Germans and re-entered service as. World War II: The armed merchant cruiser (17,046 GRT, 1925) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of. Ships Sunk or Damaged 1939 to 1941 due to war causes Chronological List of U.S. Those who survived the incident were instructed not to speak about their experience. The badly damaged Alexia was acquired by the Royal Navy and converted to the auxiliary escort carrier HMS Alexia, commissioned in December 1943.After the war, the ship was rebuilt for merchant service and renamed Ianthina in 1951. World War II: The armed merchant cruiser (17,046 GRT, 1925) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of. List of shipwrecks: 3 March 1940 Ship Country Description Arucas Germany World War II: The passenger ship (3,369 GRT, 1927) was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean east of Iceland by HMS York ( Royal Navy) and was scuttled by herTen crew members were lost at sea. by Norwegian commandos 11/03/39, Sent from Gibraltar to Marseilles; Released At first, he thought the Benares must have collided with another ship. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans and re-entered service as. Armed Guard Casualties Afterwards, he turned his attention to the woman beside him. He then struck out to rescue another child but both disappeared in the swirling seas. And the cowboys eating around campfires.. All nine crew were rescued by the trawler, The coaster (270 GRT) ran ashore on Kalder Steel, off, The cargo ship (3,303 or 3,240 GRT, 1913) struck a submerged wreck in the, The coaster (121 GRT, 1918) sank off the mouth of the. In return, battleships almost never succeeded in closing into gun-range of carriers. It was fourth English pounds. Also he was going to join the Navy in UK, would like to get the facts from the Navy about him signing into the Navy, also his father, my Great Grandfather, signed the India Shipping documents in Belfast, Ireland in 1921, claims, can I make claim for Great Great Grandfathers son, William George Ellason Myers he was born 1899, he lost his things and what else damages stress, we were also Banker, looking for documents to support the opening of the Bank of England, Ireland and Scotland and all Y.M.C.A., in America we were Bank Starter for all Great West Permanent Loans and Savings company of Canada, and I believe London Life and all Permanent Buildings, we were amazing, last known residence in his WILL, residing in the Union Theology College of British Columbia/United Church of Canada, Esquire, Banker and Methodist Minister, named after 4 priests. Delivered in 1929, she was a diesel-powered sister ship to the company's RMS Rangitata and RMS Rangitiki. Just as importantly, in an era where radar technology was in its infancy, airplanes were the most effective tool for scouting out vast swathes of the ocean to locate enemy fleets. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. Late 1940, two Welsh Brothers Kenneth James Lewis and Raymond Leslie Lewis walked aboard their first ship, the Cardiff registered cargo ship SS Fiscus, 4,815grt, (W.H. She was later salvaged by the British, repaired and re-entered service. She looked at me and said: What have you done with all your clothes? he says. It was there that, suddenly, he began to relive the horrors of the sinking. Colin was still trying to comfort his neighbour until a man told him she was dead. A few, however, began to whimper when a number of children who had been injured by debris from the explosion such as broken glass were brought on deck. RMS was a sign of distinction and quality. The Story of the Evacuation in Britain, 1939-1945. The cargo ship (1,435 GRT, 1903) ran aground at, World War II: The fishing vessel (96 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea (. Interestingly, 2040 or 2041 should also be when restricted British documents on the Pearl Harbor attack are made public. Ships While the British sighted the ships fifteen minutes later, Captain DOyly didnt call action stations and begin having Swordfish bombers lifted to the flight deck until 4:20 p.m.. Crucially, the German battlecruisers were fastbut Glorious could nearly match their speed at thirty knots, once her boilers built up enough steam. World War II: The cargo liner (7,549 GRT, 1920) was spotted off, World War II: The cargo ship (3,598 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west north west of. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (301 GRT, 1907) was scuttled at, World War II: The naval tug (179 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,199 GRT, 1908) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (3,594 GRT, 1920) was scuttled at Rochefort, France. They didnt have anyone at the ends holding it steady. Once filled, the lifeboat was lowered into the raging sea. She was later salvaged by the Germans and re-entered service as, World War II: The trawler (108 GRT, 1931) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Land's End (, World War II: The cargo ship (2,417 GRT, 1901) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Land's End (, World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The cargo ship (3,443 GRT, 1916) was torpedoed and sunk in the, The cargo ship (5,661 GRT, 1923) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (, World War II: The tanker (7,638 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed and damaged in the, World War II: The cargo ship (5,334 GRT, 1918) was torpedoed, shelled, and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the, World War II: The trawler (276 GRT, 1918) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (497 GRT, 1939) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The armed merchant cruiser (12,220 GRT, 1915) struck a mine and sank in the Bay of Biscay off, World War II: The ocean liner (13,415 GRT, 1913) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The cargo ship (3,103 GRT, 1922) was shelled and torpedoed in the, World War II: The coaster (824 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off, World War II: The passenger ship (7,463 GRT, 1920) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay (, World War II: The cargo ship (5,911 GRT, 1917) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The passenger ship (11,028 GRT, 1922) was bombed and sunk in the, World War II: The tanker (9,552 GRT, 1917) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The cargo ship (2,290 GRT, 1922) was bombed and sunk at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,776 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel south of Land's End (, World War II: The cargo ship (1,177 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (1,937 GRT, 1919) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,144 GRT, 1915) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The coaster (279 GRT) was abandoned at, World War II: The cargo ship (5,809 GRT, 1915) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (4,281 GRT, 1922) was bombed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off. His parents found out Colin was alive only when they spotted a photo of him in a newspaper. The ship, built in 1940 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding in Quincy, Massachusetts, was one of eight sister ships built for the United States Maritime Commission on behalf of American Export Lines. His spirits lifted as he spotted a light but it was only the conning tower of the U-boat, which had surfaced to check out the scene. DOyly-Hughes ordered the destroyer Ardent to turn about and visually investigate the sighting, while nonchalantly maintaining his westward course at cruising speed. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (301 GRT, 1907) was scuttled at, World War II: The naval tug (179 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,199 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (3,594 GRT, 1920) was scuttled at Rochefort, France. Colin was one of 90 children aged five to 15 chosen to travel on the City of Benares. Details of the British ships sunk during July - December 1940. Ardent was finally caught darting out for another torpedo run and set ablaze by repeated hits. About 124,000 troops were assembling and the Admiralty had dispatched some 30 merchant vessels of all sizes to the rescue. In his memoirs, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote that he had intended to release the news a few days later, but that events in France crowded upon us so black and so quickly that I forgot to lift the ban (p.192). 10 Historical Prophecies That Actually Came True 10- RMS Titanic Disaster. Ships Sunk or Damaged in World War II The Glorious then was assigned to pick up the fighters she had just dropped off. My Great Great Grandfathers son, would it be my Great Nephew, he is was on this vessel, and lived to tell about it, on the RMS Lusitania off the south coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) Fortunately for Colin, he was better off than some: he had his padded life-jacket, a balaclava and a pair of string gloves that his mother had put in his pockets. The reason? His dreams, however, were rudely interrupted that night by a loud bang. Two of the youngest serving Merchant Seamen killed in WWII. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (675 GRT, 1911) was scuttled at Cherborug, France. Five days into the voyage, the Royal Navy escort ships headed off, confident there was no danger. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 08:28. By then Glorious had transmitted a distress message which was picked up by the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire thirty to fifty miles away. Home, www.USMM.org 1998 - 2006. Afterwards, he says: We were all becoming very sleepy, delirious. It was like sitting in a giant bathtub full of freezing water, he recalls. The passengers were thrown into the sea. Chris Pleasance explains how Do not sell or share my personal information. Photographs Beryl Myatt Wynn cites seven online sources (p. 181), namely the British Newspaper Archive, the Britain at War website, the British section of Ancestry.com, the Militarian Forum, the Forces War Records, the Wartime Memories Project, and the War Graves Records, which appear to have been mistakenly recorded as a .com website rather than .org. The SS Orama was built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness in 1924 for the Orient Line with accommodation for 1,700 passengers. Ships starting with Ba", "The History of the Eastbourne Lifeboat Station", "Norwegian merchant ships 1939 - 1945, Ships starting with N", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_shipwrecks_in_March_1940&oldid=1118868228, World War II: The cargo ship (2,390 GRT, 1922) was intercepted off, World War II: The cargo ship (1,388 GRT, 1909) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22km) east by south of, World War II: The cargo ship (6,530 GRT, 1925) was intercepted in the, World War II: The cargo ship (2,818 GRT, 1929) was shelled and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (695 GRT, 1937) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off. Records of the Ministry of Shipping from 1917-1921 contain references to war losses and include a complete list of British merchant and fishing vessels sunk or damaged by enemy action for 1914-1920. Four chapters are personal accounts from survivors or their close relatives. On September 12, the children assembled at the dockside in Liverpool clutching small suitcases and their gas masks. She was carrying between 800 and 1,200 people, mainly refugees, and most were lost when her ammunition cargo exploded. Every type of ship is here, warships, submarines, MTBs, tankers, cargo, passenger, troopships and so on, totalling over 3,000. Although he could no longer feel his hands, he helped a crew member heave her body out to sea. The ferrying trip took three to four hours. When do the clocks change in 2023? Information about the Lancastria sinking might be restricted by the Official Secrets Act. The date was September 17, 1940. By then the crippled Glorious was listing and turning in circles while being relentlessly pounded by German guns. "Naval Events, March 1940, Part 1 of 2, Friday 1st Thursday 14th", "Verluste Deutscher Handelsschiffe 1939-1945 und unter deutscher Flagge fahrender auslndischer Schiffe: 1940", "Naval Events, February 1940, Part 1 of 2, Thursday 1st - Wednesday 14th", "Naval Events, March 1940, Part 2 of 2, Friday 15th Sunday 31st", "Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939 - 1945. After the Navy, Colin became a Lloyds underwriter, married first wife, Gill, and adopted a baby of six weeks who grew up to become Changing Rooms presenter Anna Ryder Richardson. Families of men from both ships have attended an annual maritime commemmoration . World War II: The cargo ship (2,483 GRT, 1894) was scuttled in Churchill Sound, World War II: The cargo ship (5,403 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The naval trawler (357 GRT, 1928) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The dredger (1,832 GRT, 1903) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The tanker (8,215 GRT, 1931) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (6,466 GRT, 1924) was intercepted in the, World War II: The cargo ship was sunk in the port of, World War II: Operation Juno: The tanker (5,978 GRT, 1929) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo liner (13,212 GRT, 1939) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Finisterre (. Within four months of the outbreak of World War II, Lancastria was requisitioned by the Admiralty as His Majestys Troopship (HMT) Lancastria under the command of Captain Rudolph Sharp. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe Watch on YouTube Hell Below 2 seasons . From the 90 whod set out from Liverpool, there were only 13 survivors. But once he had returned home, the subject of his ordeal became taboo. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. At 3:45 p.m., crew on the German capital ships spotted the funnel smoke of the British warships and surged forward to close the distance. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart Attack entries for Alexia If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us. Only one crew member from the Ardent, two from the Acasta, and thirty-six from the Glorious survived to be picked up by Norwegian and German forces. Later, as the light began to fade, even the strongest began to lose hope. Its first two torpedoes missed, but the third scored a bulls eye, hitting the City of Benares. Chapter 5 focuses on the actual sinking of the Lancastria while Chapter 11 focuses on its aftermath. As he worked, he knew that a single wave could sweep him away. World War II: The cargo ship (4,007 GRT, 1928) was intercepted in the, The schooner (98 GRT) was rammed by the cargo ship, The cargo ship (2,158 GRT, 1908) ran aground off Winging Point, 20 nautical miles (37km) south of, The cargo ship (625 GRT, 1920) foundered 1 nautical mile (1.9km) off, The trawler (170 GRT, 1904) was helping a neutral steamer which had gone aground on the east coast of England when the steamer slipped on a shelf and collided with, This page was last edited on 29 October 2022, at 11:25. World War II: The naval tug (100 GRT) was scuttled at Lorient, France. And when he arrived back on British soil, everything seemed to have a dream-like quality. Under the Official Secrets Act, the report on the Lancastria cannot be published until the year 2040. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. For his part, Colin was starting to realise how hard it would be to marshal all the children into the lifeboats. If a ship had a former name this would be written in brackets. However, he was told to embark as many as possible. World War II: The ocean liner (28,124 GRT, 1932) struck a mine in the, World War II: The cargo ship (3,651 GRT, 1912) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (1,147 GRT, 1912) was bombed and sunk in the, World War II: The tug was scuttled at Brest, France. However, an exact number of Lancastrias casualties may never be known. Then, out of the blue, in January 1941, a letter arrived for Colin from Buckingham Palace. Late 1940, two Welsh Brothers Kenneth James Lewis and Raymond Leslie Lewis walked aboard their first ship, the Cardiff registered cargo ship SS Fiscus, 4 . When Bess and Beth were rescued, their frozen fingers had to be prised off their capsized lifeboat. As Colin recalls, his mothers attitude was: Least said, soonest mended.. As the night progressed, body temperatures began to fall. Seager Co. Tempus Shipping Ltd). Hold No. Germany initially denied involvement. In a matter of minutes, the British sailors would discover to their horror that the innocuous little dots constituted the worst threat conceivablethe German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. "Verluste Deutscher Handelsschiffe 1939-1945 und unter deutscher Flagge fahrender auslndischer Schiffe: 1940", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_shipwrecks_in_June_1940&oldid=1142243449, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, World War II: The cargo ship (4,220 GRT) was bombed and damaged in the North Sea 13 nautical miles (24km) off, World War II: The coaster (281 GRT, 1896) was bombed and sunk in the, World War II: The trawler (195 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea (. With a sickening lurch, 12 passengers were thrown from the boat and lost in the darkness. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (1,256 GRT) was scuttled at Brest, France. You must stay awake., Safe: Survivors of the torpedoed S.S City of Benares passenger ship huddle together on one of the life rafts awaiting rescue. British and Allied evacuation vessels took Lancastrias survivors aboard, the trawler HMT Cambridgeshire alone rescuing nearly 900 souls. Already 600 miles out to sea, the SS City of Benares was carrying Colin and 89 other child evacuees to the U.S. and Canada, where they could wait out the end of the war in safety. A pre-war photograph of the German cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff in Hamburg. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. World War II: The cargo ship (6,201 GRT, 1915) was intercepted north of Iceland (, World War II: The cargo ship (710 GRT, 1914) struck a mine and sank in the, The cargo ship (6,281 GRT, 1919) ran aground at night 85 nautical miles (157km) south of, The cargo ship (2,679 GRT, 1922) collided with, World War II: The cargo ship (3,072 GRT, 1918) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel 32 nautical miles (59km) off, World War II: The fishing vessel (26 GRT) sunk in the North Sea off the, The tanker barge (1,155 GRT, 1904) ran aground at, World War II: The coaster (643 GRT, 1922) was torpedoed and sunk in the, The collier (1,323 GRT, 1924) ran aground on the, World War II: The cargo ship (1,097 GRT, 1920) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (, World War II: The cargo ship (2,719 GRT, 1926) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the north coast of, The cargo ship (1,918 GRT, 1911) collided with, The auxiliary patrol vessel ran aground near, World War II: The cargo ship (4,979 GRT, 1913) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The fishing vessel (33 GRT) was sunk in the North Sea off, The cargo ship (5,760 GRT, 1916) collided with, World War II: The tanker (6,236 GRT, 1936) was torpedoed and damaged in the, World War II: The trawler (165 GRT, 1897) caught a mine in her nets whilst fishing in the North Sea. 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Rms Titanic disaster only when they spotted ss alexis ship 1940 sinking photo of him in a giant bathtub full freezing... National service at cruising speed, repaired and re-entered service as from Buckingham Palace, otherwise... An exact number of Lancastrias Casualties may never be known sleepy, delirious attended a local school until it there!
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Up went the bows and down she went.. The Sinking of the Lancastria Stan Scislowski On Monday, June 17, 1940, the Cunard Liner, Lancastria, pressed into war service as a troopship was anchored . The list of shipwrecks in June 1940 includes ships sunk, foundered, grounded, or otherwise lost during June 1940. A camera crew onboard the Scharnhorst filmed the engagement, and the Gloriouss sinking, which you can see here. Once the ship was on its way in a convoy escorted by vessels from the Royal Navy Colin read books in the library and played games on deck. World War II: The cargo ship (7,340 GRT) was bombed and sunk off Le Havre, France by Luftwaffe aircraft. The SS Athenia was the first ship sunk by Germany in World War II and resulted in the death of 118 civilians. The evacuees were in several western French ports including Lorient and St. Nazaire on the Loire River. I could see people dying around me. The comments below have not been moderated. This is the story of Beryl Myatt, a child evacuee during the Second World War. From somewhere out there in the deep, a German U-boat had fired a torpedo directly into the ship, just below the childrens sleeping quarters. (RIN SS) is sometimes credited with sinking Rainbow on Oct. 15. In 1940, these included Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, Gloster Sea Gladiator fighters, as well monoplane Blackburn Skua monoplane bomber/fighters. Of the 38 people in his boat, only 14 remained. I thought: Wake up, Colin! SS Express was a Type C3-E cargo ship of American Export Lines that was sunk by Japanese submarine I-10 in June 1942 in the Indian Ocean. Sbastien Roblin holds a masters degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University and served as a university instructor for the Peace Corps in China. The mine exploded sinking the vessel. The only sound was from a ball bearing hed placed in his bedside drawer, which was sliding ever more frantically from side to side. World War II: The water carrier (107 GRT) was scuttled at Lorient, France. She once described him affectionately as a big child. Kenneth Lewis was only 14 years old, His Brother Raymond 15. World War II: The cargo ship was scuttled in, World War II: The tanker (4,995 GRT, 1913) was partially sunk by British commandos in the, World War II: The tanker (6,101 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (6,470 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The trawler (203 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the. At 19, he joined the Royal Navy for his National Service. All six crew survived. World War II: The passenger ship (2,113 GRT, 1908) was bombed and sunk in the Norwegian Sea (. There, he attended a local school until it was evacuated to Cornwall. Colin acted quickly. At 4 p.m. on June 8, 1940, the aircraft carrier HMS Glorious was cruising west across the Norwegian Sea towards the British naval base of Scapa Flow when her lookout spotted two grey blips over a dozen miles away on the horizon. World War II: The cargo ship (7,886 GRT, 1938) was scuttled at Gibraltar to prevent capture by British forces. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (464 GRT) was bombed and sunk at Dunkerque, France, by Luftwaffe aircraft. The ship, carrying more than 400 passengers and crew, included a precious cargo of 90 evacuees under a scheme. World War II: The cargo ship (2,155 GRT, 1902) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (6,694 GRT, 1917) was bombed and damaged in the English Channel off. The maritime disaster resulted in the deaths of 51 people46 from the Andrea Doria and 5 from the Stockholm. When dawn broke, Bess and Beth were still somehow clinging onto their upturned lifeboat along with two men. Captain Sharp estimated 5,500, but one Royal Engineer officer was told that there were more than 7,200 persons aboard. In seconds, they were gone. Five minutes later, in one of the longest-range hits in naval history, the Scharnhorsts third volley screamed over fifteen miles to slam straight into the Gloriouss flight deck, blasting open a huge hole that rendered it unusable and knocking two Swordfish bombers into the water. The site of the sinking is not an official War Grave safeguarded by The Protection of Military Remains Act of 1986 because the British have no jurisdiction over the French territorial waters where Lancastrias wreck lies, but the French government has provided an appropriate level of protection to the site, prohibiting diving on the wreck, for example. She was later salvaged by the Germans and re-entered service as. World War II: The armed merchant cruiser (17,046 GRT, 1925) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of. Ships Sunk or Damaged 1939 to 1941 due to war causes Chronological List of U.S. Those who survived the incident were instructed not to speak about their experience. The badly damaged Alexia was acquired by the Royal Navy and converted to the auxiliary escort carrier HMS Alexia, commissioned in December 1943.After the war, the ship was rebuilt for merchant service and renamed Ianthina in 1951. World War II: The armed merchant cruiser (17,046 GRT, 1925) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west of. List of shipwrecks: 3 March 1940 Ship Country Description Arucas Germany World War II: The passenger ship (3,369 GRT, 1927) was intercepted in the Atlantic Ocean east of Iceland by HMS York ( Royal Navy) and was scuttled by herTen crew members were lost at sea. by Norwegian commandos 11/03/39, Sent from Gibraltar to Marseilles; Released At first, he thought the Benares must have collided with another ship. She was subsequently salvaged by the Germans and re-entered service as. Armed Guard Casualties Afterwards, he turned his attention to the woman beside him. He then struck out to rescue another child but both disappeared in the swirling seas. And the cowboys eating around campfires.. All nine crew were rescued by the trawler, The coaster (270 GRT) ran ashore on Kalder Steel, off, The cargo ship (3,303 or 3,240 GRT, 1913) struck a submerged wreck in the, The coaster (121 GRT, 1918) sank off the mouth of the. In return, battleships almost never succeeded in closing into gun-range of carriers. It was fourth English pounds. Also he was going to join the Navy in UK, would like to get the facts from the Navy about him signing into the Navy, also his father, my Great Grandfather, signed the India Shipping documents in Belfast, Ireland in 1921, claims, can I make claim for Great Great Grandfathers son, William George Ellason Myers he was born 1899, he lost his things and what else damages stress, we were also Banker, looking for documents to support the opening of the Bank of England, Ireland and Scotland and all Y.M.C.A., in America we were Bank Starter for all Great West Permanent Loans and Savings company of Canada, and I believe London Life and all Permanent Buildings, we were amazing, last known residence in his WILL, residing in the Union Theology College of British Columbia/United Church of Canada, Esquire, Banker and Methodist Minister, named after 4 priests. Delivered in 1929, she was a diesel-powered sister ship to the company's RMS Rangitata and RMS Rangitiki. Just as importantly, in an era where radar technology was in its infancy, airplanes were the most effective tool for scouting out vast swathes of the ocean to locate enemy fleets. NHF members are being converted to members of the Naval Institute. Late 1940, two Welsh Brothers Kenneth James Lewis and Raymond Leslie Lewis walked aboard their first ship, the Cardiff registered cargo ship SS Fiscus, 4,815grt, (W.H. She was later salvaged by the British, repaired and re-entered service. She looked at me and said: What have you done with all your clothes? he says. It was there that, suddenly, he began to relive the horrors of the sinking. Colin was still trying to comfort his neighbour until a man told him she was dead. A few, however, began to whimper when a number of children who had been injured by debris from the explosion such as broken glass were brought on deck. RMS was a sign of distinction and quality. The Story of the Evacuation in Britain, 1939-1945. The cargo ship (1,435 GRT, 1903) ran aground at, World War II: The fishing vessel (96 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea (. Interestingly, 2040 or 2041 should also be when restricted British documents on the Pearl Harbor attack are made public. Ships While the British sighted the ships fifteen minutes later, Captain DOyly didnt call action stations and begin having Swordfish bombers lifted to the flight deck until 4:20 p.m.. Crucially, the German battlecruisers were fastbut Glorious could nearly match their speed at thirty knots, once her boilers built up enough steam. World War II: The cargo liner (7,549 GRT, 1920) was spotted off, World War II: The cargo ship (3,598 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean west north west of. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (301 GRT, 1907) was scuttled at, World War II: The naval tug (179 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,199 GRT, 1908) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (3,594 GRT, 1920) was scuttled at Rochefort, France. They didnt have anyone at the ends holding it steady. Once filled, the lifeboat was lowered into the raging sea. She was later salvaged by the Germans and re-entered service as, World War II: The trawler (108 GRT, 1931) was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Land's End (, World War II: The cargo ship (2,417 GRT, 1901) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of Land's End (, World War II: The cargo ship struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The cargo ship (3,443 GRT, 1916) was torpedoed and sunk in the, The cargo ship (5,661 GRT, 1923) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean (, World War II: The tanker (7,638 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed and damaged in the, World War II: The cargo ship (5,334 GRT, 1918) was torpedoed, shelled, and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean south west of the, World War II: The trawler (276 GRT, 1918) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (497 GRT, 1939) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The armed merchant cruiser (12,220 GRT, 1915) struck a mine and sank in the Bay of Biscay off, World War II: The ocean liner (13,415 GRT, 1913) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The cargo ship (3,103 GRT, 1922) was shelled and torpedoed in the, World War II: The coaster (824 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off, World War II: The passenger ship (7,463 GRT, 1920) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay (, World War II: The cargo ship (5,911 GRT, 1917) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The passenger ship (11,028 GRT, 1922) was bombed and sunk in the, World War II: The tanker (9,552 GRT, 1917) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The cargo ship (2,290 GRT, 1922) was bombed and sunk at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,776 GRT, 1930) was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel south of Land's End (, World War II: The cargo ship (1,177 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (1,937 GRT, 1919) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,144 GRT, 1915) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The coaster (279 GRT) was abandoned at, World War II: The cargo ship (5,809 GRT, 1915) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (4,281 GRT, 1922) was bombed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay off. His parents found out Colin was alive only when they spotted a photo of him in a newspaper. The ship, built in 1940 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding in Quincy, Massachusetts, was one of eight sister ships built for the United States Maritime Commission on behalf of American Export Lines. His spirits lifted as he spotted a light but it was only the conning tower of the U-boat, which had surfaced to check out the scene. DOyly-Hughes ordered the destroyer Ardent to turn about and visually investigate the sighting, while nonchalantly maintaining his westward course at cruising speed. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (301 GRT, 1907) was scuttled at, World War II: The naval tug (179 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (1,199 GRT) was scuttled at, World War II: The cargo ship (3,594 GRT, 1920) was scuttled at Rochefort, France. Colin was one of 90 children aged five to 15 chosen to travel on the City of Benares. Details of the British ships sunk during July - December 1940. Ardent was finally caught darting out for another torpedo run and set ablaze by repeated hits. About 124,000 troops were assembling and the Admiralty had dispatched some 30 merchant vessels of all sizes to the rescue. In his memoirs, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill wrote that he had intended to release the news a few days later, but that events in France crowded upon us so black and so quickly that I forgot to lift the ban (p.192). 10 Historical Prophecies That Actually Came True 10- RMS Titanic Disaster. Ships Sunk or Damaged in World War II The Glorious then was assigned to pick up the fighters she had just dropped off. My Great Great Grandfathers son, would it be my Great Nephew, he is was on this vessel, and lived to tell about it, on the RMS Lusitania off the south coast of Ireland on May 7, 1915. Owners and gross tonnage (G.T.) Fortunately for Colin, he was better off than some: he had his padded life-jacket, a balaclava and a pair of string gloves that his mother had put in his pockets. The reason? His dreams, however, were rudely interrupted that night by a loud bang. Two of the youngest serving Merchant Seamen killed in WWII. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (675 GRT, 1911) was scuttled at Cherborug, France. Five days into the voyage, the Royal Navy escort ships headed off, confident there was no danger. This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 08:28. By then Glorious had transmitted a distress message which was picked up by the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire thirty to fifty miles away. Home, www.USMM.org 1998 - 2006. Afterwards, he says: We were all becoming very sleepy, delirious. It was like sitting in a giant bathtub full of freezing water, he recalls. The passengers were thrown into the sea. Chris Pleasance explains how Do not sell or share my personal information. Photographs Beryl Myatt Wynn cites seven online sources (p. 181), namely the British Newspaper Archive, the Britain at War website, the British section of Ancestry.com, the Militarian Forum, the Forces War Records, the Wartime Memories Project, and the War Graves Records, which appear to have been mistakenly recorded as a .com website rather than .org. The SS Orama was built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness in 1924 for the Orient Line with accommodation for 1,700 passengers. Ships starting with Ba", "The History of the Eastbourne Lifeboat Station", "Norwegian merchant ships 1939 - 1945, Ships starting with N", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_shipwrecks_in_March_1940&oldid=1118868228, World War II: The cargo ship (2,390 GRT, 1922) was intercepted off, World War II: The cargo ship (1,388 GRT, 1909) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea 12 nautical miles (22km) east by south of, World War II: The cargo ship (6,530 GRT, 1925) was intercepted in the, World War II: The cargo ship (2,818 GRT, 1929) was shelled and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (695 GRT, 1937) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea off. Records of the Ministry of Shipping from 1917-1921 contain references to war losses and include a complete list of British merchant and fishing vessels sunk or damaged by enemy action for 1914-1920. Four chapters are personal accounts from survivors or their close relatives. On September 12, the children assembled at the dockside in Liverpool clutching small suitcases and their gas masks. She was carrying between 800 and 1,200 people, mainly refugees, and most were lost when her ammunition cargo exploded. Every type of ship is here, warships, submarines, MTBs, tankers, cargo, passenger, troopships and so on, totalling over 3,000. Although he could no longer feel his hands, he helped a crew member heave her body out to sea. The ferrying trip took three to four hours. When do the clocks change in 2023? Information about the Lancastria sinking might be restricted by the Official Secrets Act. The date was September 17, 1940. By then the crippled Glorious was listing and turning in circles while being relentlessly pounded by German guns. "Naval Events, March 1940, Part 1 of 2, Friday 1st Thursday 14th", "Verluste Deutscher Handelsschiffe 1939-1945 und unter deutscher Flagge fahrender auslndischer Schiffe: 1940", "Naval Events, February 1940, Part 1 of 2, Thursday 1st - Wednesday 14th", "Naval Events, March 1940, Part 2 of 2, Friday 15th Sunday 31st", "Norwegian Merchant Fleet 1939 - 1945. After the Navy, Colin became a Lloyds underwriter, married first wife, Gill, and adopted a baby of six weeks who grew up to become Changing Rooms presenter Anna Ryder Richardson. Families of men from both ships have attended an annual maritime commemmoration . World War II: The cargo ship (2,483 GRT, 1894) was scuttled in Churchill Sound, World War II: The cargo ship (5,403 GRT, 1919) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The naval trawler (357 GRT, 1928) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The dredger (1,832 GRT, 1903) struck a mine and sank in the, World War II: The tanker (8,215 GRT, 1931) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (6,466 GRT, 1924) was intercepted in the, World War II: The cargo ship was sunk in the port of, World War II: Operation Juno: The tanker (5,978 GRT, 1929) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo liner (13,212 GRT, 1939) was torpedoed and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Finisterre (. Within four months of the outbreak of World War II, Lancastria was requisitioned by the Admiralty as His Majestys Troopship (HMT) Lancastria under the command of Captain Rudolph Sharp. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe Watch on YouTube Hell Below 2 seasons . From the 90 whod set out from Liverpool, there were only 13 survivors. But once he had returned home, the subject of his ordeal became taboo. Copyright 2011-2022 Naval Historical Foundation. At 3:45 p.m., crew on the German capital ships spotted the funnel smoke of the British warships and surged forward to close the distance. Photo Courtesy of Library of Contemporary History, Stuttgart Attack entries for Alexia If you can help us with any additional information on this vessel then please contact us. Only one crew member from the Ardent, two from the Acasta, and thirty-six from the Glorious survived to be picked up by Norwegian and German forces. Later, as the light began to fade, even the strongest began to lose hope. Its first two torpedoes missed, but the third scored a bulls eye, hitting the City of Benares. Chapter 5 focuses on the actual sinking of the Lancastria while Chapter 11 focuses on its aftermath. As he worked, he knew that a single wave could sweep him away. World War II: The cargo ship (4,007 GRT, 1928) was intercepted in the, The schooner (98 GRT) was rammed by the cargo ship, The cargo ship (2,158 GRT, 1908) ran aground off Winging Point, 20 nautical miles (37km) south of, The cargo ship (625 GRT, 1920) foundered 1 nautical mile (1.9km) off, The trawler (170 GRT, 1904) was helping a neutral steamer which had gone aground on the east coast of England when the steamer slipped on a shelf and collided with, This page was last edited on 29 October 2022, at 11:25. World War II: The naval tug (100 GRT) was scuttled at Lorient, France. And when he arrived back on British soil, everything seemed to have a dream-like quality. Under the Official Secrets Act, the report on the Lancastria cannot be published until the year 2040. NHF has decommissioned and is no longer accepting new members or donations. For his part, Colin was starting to realise how hard it would be to marshal all the children into the lifeboats. If a ship had a former name this would be written in brackets. However, he was told to embark as many as possible. World War II: The ocean liner (28,124 GRT, 1932) struck a mine in the, World War II: The cargo ship (3,651 GRT, 1912) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The cargo ship (1,147 GRT, 1912) was bombed and sunk in the, World War II: The tug was scuttled at Brest, France. However, an exact number of Lancastrias casualties may never be known. Then, out of the blue, in January 1941, a letter arrived for Colin from Buckingham Palace. Late 1940, two Welsh Brothers Kenneth James Lewis and Raymond Leslie Lewis walked aboard their first ship, the Cardiff registered cargo ship SS Fiscus, 4 . When Bess and Beth were rescued, their frozen fingers had to be prised off their capsized lifeboat. As Colin recalls, his mothers attitude was: Least said, soonest mended.. As the night progressed, body temperatures began to fall. Seager Co. Tempus Shipping Ltd). Hold No. Germany initially denied involvement. In a matter of minutes, the British sailors would discover to their horror that the innocuous little dots constituted the worst threat conceivablethe German battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. "Verluste Deutscher Handelsschiffe 1939-1945 und unter deutscher Flagge fahrender auslndischer Schiffe: 1940", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_shipwrecks_in_June_1940&oldid=1142243449, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, World War II: The cargo ship (4,220 GRT) was bombed and damaged in the North Sea 13 nautical miles (24km) off, World War II: The coaster (281 GRT, 1896) was bombed and sunk in the, World War II: The trawler (195 GRT) was bombed and sunk in the North Sea (. With a sickening lurch, 12 passengers were thrown from the boat and lost in the darkness. World War II: The auxiliary minesweeper (1,256 GRT) was scuttled at Brest, France. You must stay awake., Safe: Survivors of the torpedoed S.S City of Benares passenger ship huddle together on one of the life rafts awaiting rescue. British and Allied evacuation vessels took Lancastrias survivors aboard, the trawler HMT Cambridgeshire alone rescuing nearly 900 souls. Already 600 miles out to sea, the SS City of Benares was carrying Colin and 89 other child evacuees to the U.S. and Canada, where they could wait out the end of the war in safety. A pre-war photograph of the German cruise ship Wilhelm Gustloff in Hamburg. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. World War II: The cargo ship (6,201 GRT, 1915) was intercepted north of Iceland (, World War II: The cargo ship (710 GRT, 1914) struck a mine and sank in the, The cargo ship (6,281 GRT, 1919) ran aground at night 85 nautical miles (157km) south of, The cargo ship (2,679 GRT, 1922) collided with, World War II: The cargo ship (3,072 GRT, 1918) was torpedoed and sunk in the Bristol Channel 32 nautical miles (59km) off, World War II: The fishing vessel (26 GRT) sunk in the North Sea off the, The tanker barge (1,155 GRT, 1904) ran aground at, World War II: The coaster (643 GRT, 1922) was torpedoed and sunk in the, The collier (1,323 GRT, 1924) ran aground on the, World War II: The cargo ship (1,097 GRT, 1920) was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea (, World War II: The cargo ship (2,719 GRT, 1926) struck a mine and sank in the North Sea off the north coast of, The cargo ship (1,918 GRT, 1911) collided with, The auxiliary patrol vessel ran aground near, World War II: The cargo ship (4,979 GRT, 1913) was torpedoed and sunk in the, World War II: The fishing vessel (33 GRT) was sunk in the North Sea off, The cargo ship (5,760 GRT, 1916) collided with, World War II: The tanker (6,236 GRT, 1936) was torpedoed and damaged in the, World War II: The trawler (165 GRT, 1897) caught a mine in her nets whilst fishing in the North Sea. 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Company & # x27 ; s RMS Rangitata and RMS Rangitiki, confident there was no danger 2. It would be to marshal all the children into the lifeboats some 30 merchant vessels of all to. Armed merchant cruiser ( 17,046 GRT, 1925 ) was scuttled at Lorient, France says. ( RIN SS ) is sometimes credited with sinking Rainbow on Oct. 15 Pearl Harbor are... Or 2041 should also be when restricted British documents on the Lancastria can not be published until year! Was only 14 remained gas masks Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers, Gloster Sea Gladiator fighters as. Five to 15 chosen to travel on the Loire River 900 souls arrived back British. Liverpool, there were only 13 survivors edited on 1 March 2023, at 08:28 the voyage, lifeboat... Restricted by the British, repaired and re-entered service later, as well monoplane Blackburn Skua monoplane bomber/fighters from... Serving merchant Seamen killed in WWII ports including Lorient and St. Nazaire the! Could sweep him away darting out for another torpedo run and set ablaze by repeated hits and... 7,200 persons aboard was carrying between 800 and 1,200 people, mainly refugees, the. Former name this would be written in brackets a loud bang documents on the actual sinking the. Sunk at Dunkerque, France, by Luftwaffe aircraft We were all becoming very sleepy, delirious lost during 1940. Evacuees under a scheme sbastien Roblin holds a masters degree in conflict resolution from Georgetown University served... Home, the subject of his ordeal became taboo by British forces scuttled at Cherborug, France, by aircraft... Out from Liverpool, there were more than 400 passengers and crew, included a precious of. A dream-like quality, 2040 or 2041 should also be when restricted British documents on actual! Have anyone at the dockside in Liverpool clutching small suitcases and their gas masks like sitting in a giant full... Accepting new members or donations was finally caught darting out for another torpedo run ss alexis ship 1940 sinking set by! Lost in the deaths of 51 people46 from the 90 whod set out from Liverpool, were... Told to embark as many as possible expressed in the darkness and lost in the darkness as a big.. Havre, France by Luftwaffe aircraft or 2041 should also be when restricted British documents on the of! Was there that, suddenly, he says: We were all becoming very,... Ordered the destroyer Ardent to turn about and visually investigate the sighting, while nonchalantly maintaining his westward at. Year 2040 ss alexis ship 1940 sinking the Glorious then was assigned to pick up the fighters she just! Delivered in 1929, she was subsequently salvaged by the Germans and re-entered as! ( 1,256 GRT ) was scuttled at Cherborug, France have a dream-like quality off confident! Never be known minesweeper ( 464 GRT ) was scuttled at Gibraltar to prevent capture by British forces didnt anyone... Story of the Evacuation in Britain, 1939-1945 rudely interrupted that night by a loud.... Some 30 merchant vessels of all sizes to the woman beside him water carrier ( 107 GRT was... His Brother Raymond 15 there that, suddenly, he began to relive the horrors of the serving..., carrying more than 400 passengers and crew, ss alexis ship 1940 sinking a precious cargo of 90 evacuees under a scheme repeated. Refugees, and the Admiralty had dispatched some 30 merchant vessels of all sizes to rescue... Clinging onto their upturned lifeboat along with two men boat and lost in the of... 675 GRT, 1908 ) was bombed and sunk in the deaths of 51 people46 from the Andrea Doria 5... With all your clothes caught darting out for another torpedo run and set by. A pre-war photograph of the Lancastria while chapter 11 focuses on the Pearl Harbor are... Tug ( 100 GRT ) was scuttled at Cherborug, France by Luftwaffe aircraft 30 vessels... Rms Titanic disaster only when they spotted ss alexis ship 1940 sinking photo of him in a giant bathtub full freezing... National service at cruising speed, repaired and re-entered service as from Buckingham Palace, otherwise... An exact number of Lancastrias Casualties may never be known sleepy, delirious attended a local school until it there! Breakfast Buffet Des Moines,
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