BBC Radio 4 Extra

The Sinking of the Lancastria

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Factual: History

04/07/2010

BBC Radio 4 Extra - The Sinking of the Lancastria

From the French coast, Allan Little tells the story of Britain's worst maritime disaster.

1940: the British troop ship Lancastria is sunk, killing thousands. Why is it largely forgotten? With Allan Little. From 2010.

On the 17th of June 1940 thousands of British troops and airmen died as their troopship, the Lancastria, was sunk by German bombers. Allan Little travels to the French port of St Nazaire on the 70th anniversary of Britain's worst maritime disaster, to tell the story. 

We hear from survivors of the ship who miraculously escaped from the sinking and the chaos of the sea alight with spilled oil. In particular we follow the story of Ft Lt Albert Hill, the last man off the ship, whose unpublished diary has come to light. 

We also find out why, so many years after the story was suppressed by Churchill in the darkest days of the war, there is still a reluctance in England to acknowledge and commemorate the tragedy. 

Producer: Susan Marling

A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in July 2010.

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