Medal honour for victims of wartime disaster

DECADES of waiting for recognition of Britain's worst ever maritime disaster finally came to an end when First Minister Alex Salmond handed out medals in a simple ceremony in the Scottish Parliament.

The troop ship Lancastria was sunk off the French coast by German bombers on Monday June 17, 1940, with the loss of more than 4000 lives – more than the combined losses aboard the Titanic and Lusitania and the worst single loss of life for British forces in the whole of the Second World War.

Winston Churchill banned all news coverage of the disaster, fearing the scale of the tragedy would impact on public morale.

And over the years, the UK Government refused any move to recognise the tragedy, insisting medals could only be issued for individual acts of gallantry.

But last night, survivors and relatives of those who died were presented with medals struck by the Scottish Government.

Robert Cruickshank, 44, from Linlithgow, received a medal on behalf of his grandfather, Private Alexander Cruickshank, who was 38 when he died.

Mr Cruickshank said receiving the medal had been "extremely important".

He said: "I have been disgusted with the Westminster Government. They have refused even to acknowledge the ship as an official war grave. And I am extremely proud of the Scottish Government. It shows the compassion and humanity of Scots people.

"My family have had to bear this over the decade, but now there is some closure.

"My father was only 12 when his dad was killed and it hurt so much he would hardly ever talk about it. He had to leave school early and get a job. He did a building job when he could have done a whole lot more with his life."

The First Minister said the medals recognised the courage and sacrifice of those who had been on board the Lancastria on that fateful day 68 years ago.

He said: "For many survivors it has been a lifetime of waiting for the recognition and understanding which they merit.

"The Government believes the courage and sacrifice of these men and women should be recognised, commemorated and saluted."

The medal – the first of its kind instigated by the Scottish Government – followed a petition to the Scottish Parliament by the Lancastria Association of Scotland.

Association secretary Mark Hirst, whose grandfather Walter survived the tragedy, said: "Successive British Governments have simply not wanted to commemorate the loss of the Lancastria.

"However we are delighted that the Scottish Government has decided to recognise those who endured and those who were lost that day."

Tomorrow survivors and relatives will gather for the annual Lancastria memorial service at St George's West Church in Shandwick Place at 1pm.