'Lost in Time. A survivors story.........'

This is the long awaited site of the all new Documentary about The secret sinking of the Troop ship Lancastria and Churchill's WW2 cover up Britain's Worst Maritime Disaster 17th June 1940. Release coming soon.

June 17th 1940. The Dunkirk miracle was two weeks old but thousands of British troops were still in danger of being trapped in France. To those who reached St Nazaire the great Lancastria Liner was a symbol of security. But never had Hitler's dive bombers been given a target so tempting     ........and vulnerable.....

This is the first one hour British documentary film, based on a three years filming and research project by Trauma Counsellors and researchers: David and Jayne Dalrymple from Derbyshire who were drawn into the whole story of the sinking of the Lancastria by their work with WW2 veterans and trauma victims from that era.

The film is purely based on 22+survivors accounts and those of their families. Thorough accounts that will show in depth for the first time what actually happened to them whilst leaving France escaping the incoming German regime. The sinking took place just after the Dunkirk evacuation which saw as many as 200,000+ BEF still left stranded in France. The Cunard Liner Lancastria commissioned troop ship sank within 20 minutes with up to 9,000 troops and civilians on board and safety equipment for only 2,400. It was the single largest loss of British Troops in the Second World War and on top of that the news was suppressed by Winston Churchill for morale reasons. Apparently official records have been sealed until 2040.

(David Dalrymple) 'The film starts with Harry's story, Harry a Lancastria survivor from Nottingham who walked into our office one day looking like a huge set of scales with bags upon bags of papers and photos under his arms. Over the years we have spent hours upon hours filming and working with Harry and many other survivors, including Crew member Bill who gave us a great insight into Lancastria's Captain Rudolph Sharp and Chief Officer Grattidge's way of thinking and life on board the Lancastria before she was hit and sank in 20 minutes. We just could not put the story down'

Traumatic Experiences

(Jayne Dalrymple) 'Firstly we started with each survivor with their childhood memories and then moving through the declaration of WW2 and conscription. All the experiences were as traumatic and moving as each other which of course we helped each one with. On top of all that researching archives and filming, looking through years of survivors newspapers and collected material, summing it all up its been a long hard struggle with only ourselves backing each other no backing from anybody on the outside. It sometimes seemed that all we lived was working on the Lancastria film but we wouldn't have it any other way'.

Today the film will argue for the survivors that those who suffered so much on that terrible afternoon off the Loire estuary deserve to be remembered. (Jayne Dalrymple) 'I mean it' not a lot to ask the British Government for some long overdue recognition for our own veterans those well along in years having fought and died for this country. It would be for many a peace of mind to the survivors and relatives of those lost. We hope the film shames them into action'.

The film will also give accounts of what happened to those trapped below deck which some say number between 4-8,000 troops and civilians which were killed when she sank. It will show that the controversial accounts from survivors jumping in the water seeing people on the upturned hull with their voices ringing in their ears, 'abide with me', and, 'roll out the barrel', before she sank were very real and not some figment of imagination which some archivists have stated.

Tony Martin One Of Britain's Greatest Injustices

After the interview of Tony Martin by David and Jayne Dalrymple, over his controversial killing of Fred Barras of Newark at his home Bleak House in Norfolk. And his release from prison. It was found Tony martin had a passion for injustices of all kinds. We worked with Tony showing him many of the tragic pictures and literature we had with us about the Lancastria Disaster and he wished to get involved in some way, if it was at all possible. And left us with a moving message for the survivors. (Jayne Dalrymple)

I quote. "The tragic story of the Lancastria, Britians Worst maritime Disaster, must be brought to the attention of British people. I feel you are doing a marvelous job in trying to get to the attention of the British media and the public. After talking to you I feel it must be one of Britain's Greatest injustices. I sometimes wonder what these old chaps must be thinking after having to live with this burden all their adult lives. I feel Your top priority must be getting recognition for all those that were lost and ultimately for all those that survived. Recognition at the end of the day costs nothing. Further more I need to express my wishes for every success in your venture and your ongoing work and support in my case-Tony Martin (Norfolk Farmer)". Un quote

More on Tony Martin

SHIPS BELL FOUND IN GRAVEYARD

The film will follow survivors apparently on their last pilgrimage to the wreck site (2005). Show the finding of the ships bell by David and Jayne Dalrymple who at the time were setting up to film a wreath laying ceremony in a military graveyard near St Nazaire France. (David Dalrymple) 'It was truly amazing really, we were always first off the bus and we had just set up inside the main gates when I caught sight in the corner of my eye a man running away. Then after turning to find this huge marine encrusted ships bell with the name Tyrrhenia written on her side with a rolled up note sticking out of the holding ring, apparently left by its temporary owner, said to be a local fisherman stating in French, 'More than 3 years-illegal, since I took the bell from the Lancastria beneath the sea. The original named the Tyrrhenia. I wish to remain anonymous'. I think we just happened to be in the right place at the right time, that has happened a lot whilst we have been filming and working with survivors'.

After 68 years in the waiting the film will shed light on the ongoing fight for recognition by relatives of those lost. It will also show the fight for the right of ownership, (Locus of control), of the ships bell between the Reciever of Wrecks (British) and the Lancastria Association, follow it along its journey to the St katherine Cree church City of London where it will stay and eventually be rung once a year on 17th June. Show the unveiling of the British Lancastria Association monument at Alrewas Staffordshire. And finally show some of the successful efforts to date of the Scottish Lancastria Association with Mark Hirst and members with a willing Scottish Parliament in the raising of a medal which was presented by first Minister Alex Salmond on 12th June 2008. All this after Des Browne British Defense Secretary, rejected calls for the survivors and victims of Britain's Worst maritime Disaster to be honored with a medal. In a letter to all MSP's, he stated, 'the UK Government would not sanction the casting of a medal to recognize the sinking of the Clyde built Lancastria during WW2'. July 2008

With respect it's quite distressing that over the years a film like the Titanic glamorizes death by drowning which was made to make money. It is good to remember that those on the Titanic were in pursuit of pleasure whereas those on the Lancastria were losing their lives for their country. The documentary is a cry for recognition. Survivors we have worked with don't want publicity. They just wish recognition.

David & Jayne Dalrymple: