Lancastria: Forgotten WWII tragedy remembered in new music

BBC News

26-03-2025

The worst British maritime disaster - the sinking of the RMS Lancastria in June 1940 - is one of the lesser-known of our national tragedies.It remains one of the largest losses of life from a single ship.The news, that up to 7,000 people died, was suppressed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who was concerned about the morale of Britain so soon after Dunkirk.Now, as the 85th anniversary approaches, a new piece of music - Lancastria - has been written to remember and commemorate those who died.
The former liner was bombed repeatedly as it bore British troops and civilians leaving wartime France for the relative safety of home.Up to 7,000 people died in the waters off the coast of Brittany - some went down with the ship, others perished from hypothermia or drowned in the oily water, clouded black from the leakage of fuel.Still more were shot by the German planes that dropped the bombs or broke their necks on their lifejackets jumping into the waves.Churchill's memoirs revealed he was keen not to demolish the morale of the public - and he planned to share the news a few days later.However, events in France "crowded upon us so black and so quickly" he said, that he "forgot to lift the ban".
St Katharine Cree church in the City of London is visible from Cunard Place, the former home of the offices of shipping line of the same name, which owned the Lancastria. Every year the tragedy is quietly marked amongst the pews, beneath the stained glass window dedicated to the loss.Also based at the church, is Lloyd's choir - and music director Jacques Cohen has composed a piece to be performed at the annual service."My initial thought was to write a purely orchestral piece. However the obvious thing was to write an anthem which the choir could sing" he said.
The choral and orchestral composition Mr Cohen has created uses the poem Crossing The Bar by Alfred Tennyson - a metaphorical meditation on death. It compares dying to gently crossing the sandbar between coast and the wider sea.Mr Cohen wanted to incorporate some of the melody of the piece Flowers of the Forest, a Scottish folk tune and work of war poetry.Flowers of the Forest is already played on the bagpipes at the end of the annual Lancastria service - it was also played at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.The finished composition starts with the orchestra before it accompanies the choir singing Tennyson's words, with hints at the Flowers of the Forest tune throughout.
The choir rehearses in the chancel of St Katharine Cree, in the light of a beautiful blue and multicoloured stained glass window depicting the tragedy.It was commissioned in the 1960s, and cost around £750 at the time (about £15,000 today).Chorister Debbie Sweet explained: "The top half of the window shows the parable of Christ walking on the water and calming the storm, which obviously is very fitting."Ms Sweet, a member of the choir since 1985, added: "About two thirds of the way down there is the image of the Lancastria's upturned hull, with smoke coming from it and also a rescue boat rowing away with soldiers in it."The bottom third of the window was only put in in 2014, and that has the plaque indicating the date."
Choir trustee Jo Staphnill admitted it was "surprising" so few people know about what happened to thousands of troops and civilians in this disaster."I can understand how, perhaps for operational reasons, it was deemed necessary at the time for reports not to happen right away, but it seems so tragic, not only that this happened, but also that is has been largely forgotten."
For many years survivors and their families came from all over the UK to the church each June, but as time has gone on, fewer people remain.Ms Staphnill believes this new composition will pay tribute to them and ensure a lasting legacy."It's an honour to have something written in memory of this tragedy, and hopefully play a part in bringing some comfort to the families of the survivors and people who lost their lives, by sharing some really wonderful music."
The World Premiere of Lancastria by Jacques Cohen will be performed at St Giles' Cripplegate church on Thursday 27 March at 19:00 GMT as part of Lloyd's Choir spring concert.It will be repeated at St Katharine Cree church in June, where the lives of those lost eight decades ago will be remembered and mourned.