en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Dunkirk
1 correction found
Civilian casualties: 2,000 (1,000 killed in air raids, at least 1,000 lost on the HMT Lancastria)
This line wrongly counts victims of the Lancastria sinking as Battle of Dunkirk civilian casualties. The Lancastria was sunk on 17 June 1940 off St Nazaire during Operation Aerial, nearly two weeks after the Dunkirk battle ended on 4 June.
Full reasoning
The article defines the Battle of Dunkirk as taking place at Dunkirk from 26 May to 4 June 1940. But the Lancastria sinking happened later and elsewhere:
- The UK Ministry of Defence states that HMT Lancastria was sunk on 17 June 1940 and that it was taking part in Operation Ariel (also spelled Aerial), the evacuation from France two weeks after Dunkirk.
- Royal Museums Greenwich states that Lancastria took part in Operation Aerial at St Nazaire, France, and that on the morning of 17 June 1940 she anchored off St Nazaire before being bombed and sunk.
Because the ship was lost off St Nazaire on 17 June, its deaths were not casualties of the Battle of Dunkirk, which ended on 4 June and was fought around Dunkirk. So including "at least 1,000 lost on the HMT Lancastria" in the Battle of Dunkirk civilian-casualty total is factually incorrect.
2 sources
- The 75th anniversary of the sinking of HMT Lancastria - GOV.UK
Two weeks after Dunkirk, HM Troopship (HMT) Lancastria was taking part in Operation Ariel, the evacuation of British nationals and troops from France. On 17 June 1940 ... the ship was bombed ... and sank within 20 minutes.
- Sinking of the Lancastria, 17 June 1940 | Royal Museums Greenwich
The 'Lancastria' then took part in Operation Aerial at St Nazaire, France... Early on the morning of 17 June 1940 she anchored off St Nazaire ... to begin evacuating British troops and some civilians.