|
SEA DISASTER CAMPAIGNERS BRAND DEFENCE SECRETARY COWARDLY
Key points
- Defence Secretary, Des Browne, refuses to commission a commemorative Lancastria medal for UK veterans of the disaster
- Only Scots veterans to be awarded a medal by the Scottish Government in recognition of the "unique scale and enormity" of the disaster
- Campaigners to award Des Browne a "certificate of cowardice" incorporating a white feather in recognition of the British Government's failure to acknowledge the sacrifice of victims and endurance of survivors
The Defence Secretary Des Browne has been accused cowardice and “deep ingratitude” by survivors and relatives of victims of Britain’s worst ever-maritime disaster after he confirmed the MoD will not issue a commemorative medal for those who were killed in action aboard the troopship Lancastria in 1940.
Campaigners have been fighting for official recognition from the British Government and called on them to formally commemorate the incident which claimed the lives of an estimated 4000 people, mostly troops of the British Expeditionary Force.
Last month the Scottish Government announced it would strike a commemorative medal for Scots who were aboard the vessel the day she was attacked and sunk. Scottish Ministers had also met with UK Defence Ministers urging them to strike a medal for Lancastria veterans elsewhere in the UK.
Mark Hirst (38) of the Lancastria Association of Scotland, whose grandfather was a survivor of the disaster described the decision by the Defence Secretary as deeply disappointing.
“There is clearly something peculiar to the Lancastria disaster which the MoD finds repellent.
“The MoD has consistently refused to meet with our Association. They have refused to designate the wreck site as an official war grave. They are also withholding a series of official documents related to the disaster and are now refusing to commemorate Lancastria veterans elsewhere in the UK by striking a medal in recognition of their efforts and supreme sacrifice.
“In a letter from the Defence Secretary, which we have seen, Des Browne suggests that as an alternative to the UK Government striking a medal our own Association commissions a certificate for Lancastria veterans.
“Our campaign has always been about securing official recognition from the British Government and ensuring these people are formally commemorated after years of official censorship and silence.
“The Association will commission a certificate however, but not for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice or those who endured the horrors of that day, but for the Defence Secretary himself.
“It will be in recognition of his deep ingratitude and cowardice for failing to commemorate the worst single loss of life for British forces in the whole of World War 2. The certificate will be presented to him at his constituency office in Kilmarnock next week.
“For the time being only Scots victims and survivors of this disaster look set to be commemorated by the Scottish Government. We had hoped that the British Government would follow the positive lead here, but nonetheless we will continue to campaign to ensure all those who were aboard the Lancastria that day are remembered with dignity and honour.”
<END>
Note to Editors:
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The Lancastria disaster took place on the 17th of June 1940. The Clyde built vessel was evacuating mostly troops of the British Expeditionary Force together with an estimated 200 refugees of various nationalities when she was attacked by German bombers and sank in just 20 minutes. It is estimated around 4000 lost their lives, twice the number of victims than the Titanic disaster. It remains the worst single loss of life for British forces in the whole of World War 2. On learning of the news the Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a D-notice banning all publicity related to the disaster.
DESIGNATION OF THE WRECK SITE AS AN OFFICIAL MARITIME WAR GRAVE
In March 2007 a petition containing 4000 supporting signatures was handed over to Number 10 Downing Street calling on the Government to designate the Lancastria wreck site an official maritime war grave under the Protection of Military Remains Act, 1986, (PMRA). The MoD has consistently refused to designate the Lancastria under the Act, despite previously saying the vessel had a “prima facia case” for being designated. Documents obtained by the Association also disclosed that the British Government could designate Lancastria under UK law, which would allow for the pursuit and prosecution of British divers or British flagged vessels known to have interfered with the site. Experts in maritime law at Plymouth University have derided the position adopted by the British Government as “baseless”. In May 2006 the French Government placed a 200-meter exclusion zone around the wreck site in an effort to deter diving activity following a determined campaign by the Lancastria Association of Scotland. This would not however allow for the pursuit of divers from the UK who had eluded the exclusion zone, which lies 9 miles from the port of St. Nazaire, and interfered with the site and the remains. The Association is campaigning for the “maximum protection” that can be afforded the wreck under UK law. Amongst the vessels already covered by the UK Act is a German U-boat.
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT POSITION AND KEY QUOTES FROM SCOTTISH POLITICIANS
The Scottish Government announced at the start of December that it was making direct representations to the MoD urging them to strike a commemorative medal for veterans of the Lancastria disaster. Scottish veterans Minister Stewart Maxwell said:
“I can confirm today (5th December) that, in light of the unique scale and enormity of the disaster, this Government will act to put right years of neglect and lack of recognition by providing a commemorative medal for each Scot who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the tragedy. I believe that that is the appropriate and right action for the Scottish Government to take on behalf of the survivors and those who fell in the Lancastria disaster.”
First Minister Alex Salmond (SNP) also added: “I love the idea that the families and survivors campaigned and they are about to win something that may be long overdue, but perhaps it is all the more treasured as a result.”
Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander said: “I think it's an amazing story and a really tragic one and after all these years its right that there is some sort of memorial not only for those who were lost and their families, but also for the nation as a whole to remember what happened here.”
Johann Lamont MSP (Labour), former Scottish veterans Minister.
“I, too, pay my respects to the members of the Lancastria Association of Scotland, who, like many such campaigners, have sustained their campaign over a long period, with compassion and persistence from which many of us could learn. It would be fitting if the parliamentary debate contributed to our supporting : "the calls from the remaining survivors"— how poignant that phrase is— "and relatives of victims for official recognition of this tragedy." We owe them nothing less. Their sacrifice was massive, and they have suffered in silence for a long time.”
Murdo Fraser (Con) Deputy leader of the Scottish Conservative Party said: "I pay tribute to the Lancastria Association of Scotland for all its work and dedication in endeavouring to ensure that all those who were on board the Lancastria at the time are remembered and honoured appropriately."
<END>
|
|
