Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

Hello,

My name is Amy Ferzoco. I would like to thank you for posting your "Ahoy" website. It is informative and a
pleasure to read.

I am trying to write an account of that fateful day and I have some questions about what happened. I have very little knowledge of Naval operations and am trying to educate myself, as I am writing a screenplay and would like to include this important event in my film. In the event that anyone decides to make my film, it would be a tremendous tribute to those who perished and survived the event. I am trying to be as accurate as possible and  have read several accounts on the internet, but still have questions. Perhaps you can help.

It is my understanding that there were several vessels shuttling people out to the Lancastria when she was
attacked.  Here are my questions:

• Were the ships lined up to drop off the passengers at the Lancastria?
• How far was it from the harbor to the Lancastria?
• Could the people at the harbor see the Lancastria?
• Of these vessels were any of them fishing boats, tugboats, or the like, or were they all military?
• If there were civilian crafts, what did they do when she was hit?
• Did they turn around and drop passengers off at the harbor so they could help with rescue operations, or did they do something else?
• What happened to the people pulled from the waters? I read that back at the harbor Nuns and others were
  tending to the injured.

I appreciate your time and hope you may be able to answer some of these questions.

Warmest regards,

Amy Ferzoco

See "Loss of HMT Lancastria at St Nazaire"

Amy,

Thank you for your kind words about our web site AHOY. It is a composite work, my web master Terry Kearns in Atlanta Georgia, whips all my research and scriblings into the site you found. Without his expertise and dedication the site would not see the light of day.

Now with regard to your questions about the Lancastria, I do not set myself up as an expert, but will try to respond, so here goes.
 
The Royal Navy destroyers, Havelock and Highlander, with some help from small French craft were used to ferry evacuees from shore at St Nazaire to the fleet of ships anchored off shore, one of whom was Lancastria. I would think as they loaded up they would proceed out to the waiting ships go alongside, and discharge their living cargo.

This report says that Lancastria was anchored 5 miles off shore. But there is no accurate record of how many people she took on board.

On the 17th of June 1940 the 16,000 ton Cunard liner Lancastria lay 5 miles off St Nazaire and embarked troops, RAF personnel, and civilian refugees, including women and children, who were being evacuated from France, which was then on the verge of collapse.

People ashore would be able to make out the ship's outlines where they were anchored and loading their evacuees.

It is my understanding, the main ships used to transport the evacuees were the two British destroyers, augmented by civilian but small French craft, they could have been fishing vessels or merely pleasure craft, pressed into service to act as ferries.

When Lancastria was bombed, it seems the main rescue ships were Havelock, Harvester, the cargo ship John Holt, a Trawler Cambridgeshire, and the Oransay near by, she herself was damaged in the German attack, her bridge destroyed, without her Captain , nevertheless, she picked up people from Lancastria, managed to limp back to England.

If small craft were enroute to the ship crammed with evacuees, they would have to return to the shore, unload, and then go to the rescue scene.

They had little time to achieve that, within 15/20 minutes the Lancastria had sunk, spilling about a 1,000 tons of oil, which covered survivors struggling in the water, and made it very difficult to pull them from the sea, they were so slippery.

Lancastria was able to lower only two of her own lifeboats, as she went down by the bow, the tilting ship made it impossible to lower any other of her lifeboats.

Perhaps 2,823 were recovered, but another report put the total figure at 2,477, if one has to pick your figure here, I would say 2,500 survivors was a reasonable number to use.

The number who died is anyone's guess, but again if I had to pick a number I would suggest 5000/6000 is about it.

This statement on the memorial in St Nazaire indicates a thank you to the locals about caring for survivors.

Wording on the St Nazaire Memorial to the loss of HMT Lancastria and those who died.

Opposite this place lies the wreck of the Troopship Lancastria sunk by enemy action on 17 June 1940 whilst embarking British troops and civilians during the evacuation of France. To the glory of God, in proud memory of more than 4,000 who died and in commemoration of the people of St Nazaire and surrounding districts who saved many lives, tended the wounded and gave a christian burial to victims.
WE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. HMT LANCASTRIA. ASSOCIATION 17 JUNE 1988

Of course in those terrible days, Winston Churchill did not want any more bad news to be released, the debacle at Dunkirk with the British Expeditionary Force and the French Army defeat was bad enough, so the whole story about the loss of Lancastria, and her appaling death toll was hushed up, and many relatives of those killed did not learn the true story until well after the war ended.

These days, the sacrifice is remembered every 17th. of June, at the French port of St Nazaire. See pictures from the 2005 Lancastria remembrance ceremony.

Amy, I have probably been of little use to your cause, but best of luck with your proposed film, if I am able to assist further please write to me again.

Best regards,
Mac.

Mackenzie,

Thank you so much for all the wonderful information you passed on to me.  I did find the book at my local Barnes and Noble, so I think I have the info I was looking for.

My screenplay itself isn't about the Lancastria, but the event is a major catalyst for my main character.

Again, thank you!

Amy

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