A memorial has been unveiled to hundreds of British servicemen who died when a ship was torpedoed during the Second World War.
The Lisbon Maru was carrying Japanese troops and more than 1,800 British prisoners of war when it was sunk by a US submarine.
Of the British servicemen aboard, 828 died in the incident.
A dedication service for the new memorial was held at the National Memorial Arboretum and attended by descendants of those aboard the Lisbon Maru along with veterans and representatives of the Armed Forces.
Vice Admiral John McAnally CB LVO, Vice Patron of The Royal Naval Association, said:
“These men did not die in vain. Not only did the great gallantry of many individuals save the lives of their comrades but also they like all who fought in the Far East in World War 2 contributed to development of the Japan we see today – a bastion of democracy in Asia and a country who has resumed her historic relationship of friendship with the United Kingdom.”
Vice Admiral John McAnally CB LVO
The evil brutality of the Japanese military and the unbelievable bravery of the Allies fighting against this vile enemy in the second world war should never be forgotten.
A sad event commemorated. I notice that the ship was torpedoed by a US submarine. Isn’t it wonderful to have such allies?
@John Allen: The submarine was firing on an armed ship carrying Japanese troops. The PoWs were kept in a hold and the ship was carrying no identifying markers to demonstrate PoWs were aboard. Reading up about the Lisbon Maru demonstrates that even when the ship was going down, the Japanese didn’t open the hold and were intent on letting the men go to the bottom with it. Those who escaped only did so because they were able to fight their way out.
John, the command of the US submarine did not know it was a POW ship
War is without compassion. What is an atrocity? The Holocaust? Blanket bombing civilians? Atomic bombing cities? Winners dictate the propaganda and hold the moral high ground. Never mind; we are all friends now aren’t we?
My grandfather William Barlow died on the Lisbon Maru. We should never forget the forgotten allied forces that died so we can live!!
My uncle Henry Couch (Uncle Harry ) was on this ship ,
And at the going down of the sun we will remember the
Can we dispell the myth that members of allied forces died so we can live?
It does not make sense.