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The following images are for media use only. Higher resolution images are available on request
Lancastria sailing from liverpool 193602

Lancastria in peacetime - Lancastria leaves Liverpool in 1936, in happier times. The vessel was originally called the Tyrrhenia, but after complaints from American passengers, who were unable to pronounce the name, she was renamed Lancastria in 1924. Superstitious seamen say that it is bad luck to change the name of a ship, and so it proved for the Tyrrhenia.

lanc sinking press v102

Lancastria sinking - Hundreds of men can be seen clinging to the upturned hull. For most there was no means of escape. Upturned lifeboats can be seen to the left of the picture again with men clinging on and around them hundreds of heads are floating in the water. One survivor can be seen swimming towards the HMS Highlander from where this picture was taken by Frank Clements. To the right of the sinking Lancastria a becalmed area of sea marks the oil slick from the ship’s ruptured tanks. The Germans were continuing their attack when this image was taken, strafing men in the water. The time is approximately 4.05pm, Monday 17th June 1940. 
lancastria on her side02

Lancastria’s final moments - Lancastria begins to slip beneath the waves. Smoke can be seen rising from her plates indicating the fires which raged below. From her stern hundreds of heads can be seen in the water. Some of those trapped on the turning hull are singing in defiance of the attacking Germans the popular wartime song ‘Roll out the Barrel’ in what is a truly macabre scene.

LancSurvivorsAboardHighlander02

Lancastria survivors - Tired, weary and covered in oil from Lancastria’s tanks. This shot shows survivors aboard the destroyer HMS Highlander, taken by Frank Clements. The survivor standing with the white blanket round his shoulders, behind the man with the cigarette in his mouth, has been identified as Donald Charles Bruce of the RASC. He later took part in the D-Day landings.

mark christophe bell composite mini02

Grandson of a survivor, Mark Hirst, with film maker Christophe Francois holding the bell of Lancastria, with its original name displayed, Tyrrhenia - With a composite image of Lancastria in the back ground. The bell was recovered in June 2005. A high resolution picture of this image is available on request.

© Mark Hirst 2001-2007 - All Rights Reserved

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