Operation Ariel and Falmouth – June 1940

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The evacuation from St Nazaire, 17 June 1940. HMT Oronsay in the foreground with Lancastria sinking on the horizon. Charles Pears, PMSA, ROI

The evacuation from Dunkirk of June 1940 is well-known but the evacuation from the rest of France in Operation Ariel is rarely mentioned in accounts of the time.

In this new article, Bartlett Volunteer Linda Batchelor, explores the connection with Falmouth which was the receiving  port from many of the refugees and, it appears, the Polish National Treasure which was loyally guarded by a small group of Poles.

It was during this time that the Lancastria was lost, the greatest recorded loss of life in a maritime disaster, even though the news was kept secret to protect morale.