LANCASTRIA - ESTIMATES OF UPTO 5,000 LOST

Launched in 1920 as the "TYRRHENIA" as a sister ship to
the "CAMERONIA" of the Anchor Line. Maiden voyage
Glasgow - Montreal, in June of 1922. Switched to the Hamburg
- New York route in 1923.

Renamed "LANCASTRIA" in 1924. First voyage from London

- New York in 1926

From 1932 the "LANCASTRIA" was used almost exclusively

for cuising. This is a photograph of her from around this time.

Entered service as a troop transport in March of 1940.

JUNE 16th 1940

The day before the French capitulation, the "LANCASTRIA" embarked British service personnel at Saint Nazaire who were being evacuated from the path of the advancing German troops. With about 5,500 people on board the ship waited at the Saint Nazaire anchorage for the other ships involved in the operation, intending to join them in convoy for England.

JUNE 17th 1940

The "LANCASTRIA" was attacked by German bombers, suffered four serios direct hits, and sank within 20 minutes.

THE SINKING OF THE "LANCASTRIA" WAS UP TO THAT TIME THE WORST CATASTROPHE IN SHIPPING HISTORY.

3,000 died, either in the explosions or by drowning. 2,500 were rescued by ships lying nearby or by vessels which hurried out of Saint Nazaire.

Exact figures of the number of victims have never been established. The British public only learned of the loss of the "LANCASTRIA" four weeks later, and the number of victims was put officially at 2,500.

THE "ASSOCIATION OF "LANCASTRIA" SURVIVORS" IN LONDON BELIEVES THAT MORE THAN 9,000 PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD, OF WHOM ONLY 4,000 SURVIVED.