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The Lancastria memorial, on the site where the ship was built in 1920. Unveiled by the First Minister of Scotland, 1st October 2011
First Minister Alex Salmond has paid tribute to the 4,000 people who lost their lives in the worst single loss of life for UK forces during the Second World War and the UK's worst maritime disaster.
Seventy one years after the Clyde-built troopship HMT Lancastria was bombed and sunk off the coast of France, the First Minister unveiled a memorial in the grounds of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank to those who died and declared it a place of pilgrimage for people to remember the victims and survivors of the disaster.
The First Minister said:
"Through the tireless work of the Lancastria Association of Scotland, it is only right and fitting that we should have a monument here in Scotland, close to the site of what was the William Beardmore and Sons shipbuilding yard. At this yard the Lancastria was originally built as a pleasure cruiser, only to later become a troopship. This memorial will be a comfort and focus of remembrance for the thousands of relatives who lost loved ones on that fateful day.
"Three years ago, the Scottish Government took the decision award the newly-struck HMT Lancastria Commemorative Medals to survivors and their relatives to recognise the courage and sacrifice of those on board. Every Scot who has made the ultimate sacrifice in the defence of their nation, and the bravery and valour of those who have fought and still fight today, should be remembered with pride.
"With the unveiling of this beautiful memorial, we will acknowledge it has been a long journey but finally the victims and the survivors of that terrible day are recognised."
Fiona H. T. Symon, Vice Chairperson of the Lancastria Association of Scotland, said:
"For the last six years we have been determined to achieve the right and proper acknowledgement for the thousands of men who died, including my father, Andrew T. Richardson. when the Lancastria was sunk off the coast of St Nazaire 70 years ago.
"Today's ceremony gives the Association a sense of great satisfaction and fulfils the hope of a lifetime for many of us. Now, for all time, there is a major memorial in Scotland to remember and honour, both those who died, and the survivors who had to live with the lasting memories."
Originally named Tyrrhenia, the ship was built on the Clyde in 1922 as a state-of-the-art cruiseliner but was renamed Lancastria in 1924. In March 1940 she was requisitioned as a troopship, painted battleship grey and sent to deploy British troops to Norway.
Three months later, on a fateful day in June 1940, at 3.48pm, the Lancastria came under attack from enemy aircraft. She received three direct hits from a German Junkers 88 bomber and within 20 minutes, the 16,243-ton luxury liner sank, taking with her an estimated 4,000 victims. The sinking claimed more victims than that of the Titanic and Lusitania combined.
Mission statement – Lancastria Memorial Fund
The Lancastria Memorial Fund exists to honour those who paid the supreme sacrifice aboard the troopship Lancastria on the 17th of June 1940 by erecting a permanent memorial to the estimated 4000 souls who were lost and effectively forgotten by history.
The creators of the Fund intend that the Memorial will be a focus of remembrance for the thousands of relatives who lost fathers, brothers and sons during the evacuation of France in June 1940 aboard the Clyde built troopship Lancastria.
The site for the memorial in the grounds of the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank will be deeply symbolic as it was here that the Lancastria was built and launched.
The erecting of this significant memorial in Clydebank to those who were killed in action, the first major memorial in the UK to the Lancastria fallen, will complete the circle and mark the sacrifice, courage and determination of those who paid the ultimate price in defence of freedom.
The memorial will be unveiled on Saturday 1st October 2011
Lancastria Association of Scotland. Registered Scottish Charity No: SCO39936
For more information contact: memorial@lancastria.org.uk
Above, 4000 poppies are laid out on the floor of the Scottish Parliament to mark the start of the Lancastria commemorative medal campaign, and below the site where the Lancastria memorial will be built. Permission has been given to the Association to erect the memorial (subject to statutory planning requirements and ongoing consultation with the GJH) on this location at the site of the former Dalmuir Yard where the Lancastria was built in 1920.
Wreaths are laid
Survivors Jacqueline Tanner and Lancastria crewman Bill Hughes pay their respects
First Minister Alex Salmond pays his tribute
Last post is sounded
First Minister, Alex Salmond with survivors Bill Hughes and Jacqueline Tanner
One of the RN patrol boats that sailed over Lancastria in 1998, joins in the commemoration on the River Clyde
We will remember them
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