On June 17, 64 years ago, the Cunard ship HMT Lancastria was bombed and sunk off St Nazaire with the loss of between 6,000 and 9,000 lives.
Winston Churchill forbade any reference to the sinking, described as "the greatest maritime disaster in Britain's history". I witnessed the bombing from the destroyer HMS Highlander and have said many times since, "There but for the grace of God go I".
The Lancastria Association work very hard to make sure that those who died are not forgotten but with the passage of time our numbers are dwindling
I would ask any survivors or relatives of those who died and everyone else at 3.57 on the June 17 to be upstanding and proud and remember those on the Lancastria who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.
