Liverpool to commemorate Lancastria Disaster on 86th anniversary

The loss of Cunard’s Lancastria ship and as many as 5,000 lives will be commemorated at a memorial in Liverpool later this month.

The WWII ship was lost during an enemy bombing raid off the coast of the French port of St Nazaire on 17 June 1940, resulting in the biggest loss of life ever suffered on a British Merchant Ship.

A special service, including an Act of Remembrance commencing at the time the first bomb struck the ship at 3:30pm, will be held at the ship’s memorial at Pier Head. The service will be led by the Rector of Liverpool, Fr Philip Anderson, on the 86th anniversary of the attack.

Civic dignitaries are expected to attend together with relatives of those who were on board the ship. Members of the public are also invited to attend.

The Lancastria Memorial was unveiled in Liverpool in September 2013, and can be found a short distance away from the Mersey Ferry Terminal Building. Please note that access to Pier Head waterfront will be via the approach to Museum of Liverpool Building and Port of Liverpool Building due to road and pavement closures required for a separate event.

Cunard’s Lancastria holds a significant place in Liverpool’s war history, sailing from Princes Landing Stage on 14 June 1940. She sailed to Plymouth where further orders were received for her to join Operation Aerial, the rescue of British nationals and troops from France two weeks after the Dunkirk Evacuations.

It is estimated almost 7,000 people had embarked when the attack was launched with a string of bombs at the mouth of the Loire River at St Nazaire, where a memorial similar to the one in Liverpool stands today.