La Bastiaise memorial in Smiths Dock Park, Middlesbrough
Discussion
Not sure whether of interest to anyone (other than those with a connection) or even if in the best place...
On Saturday a memorial was unveiled for those killed in 1940 on La Bastiaise, a frigate built for the French Navy. It was built on Teesside by the Smiths Dock Company. On trials it hit a mine and 61 lives were lost, including 18 workers from the dockyard - one of whom was my grandfather. The deaths were reported a few at a time over a period of days.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-41962072
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/memories/...
On Saturday a memorial was unveiled for those killed in 1940 on La Bastiaise, a frigate built for the French Navy. It was built on Teesside by the Smiths Dock Company. On trials it hit a mine and 61 lives were lost, including 18 workers from the dockyard - one of whom was my grandfather. The deaths were reported a few at a time over a period of days.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tees-41962072
http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/history/memories/...
Interesting story, thanks for flagging it up.
Shame that so many civilian shipbuilders were on board when it was sunk.
I wonder what her fate would have been had she not been mined that day - possibly blown out of the water by the Royal Navy a month later in North Africa with most of the French fleet or commandeered by the RN. I don't think the Free French Navy got going until later.
Shame that so many civilian shipbuilders were on board when it was sunk.
I wonder what her fate would have been had she not been mined that day - possibly blown out of the water by the Royal Navy a month later in North Africa with most of the French fleet or commandeered by the RN. I don't think the Free French Navy got going until later.
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