The Wartime Memories Project - The Second War

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243205 Pte. John Wiliam McManus British Army Royal Army Service Corps My grandfather William McManus was taken to Mediouna in October 1942. He was on the ill-fated Laconia ship on its way back to the UK from Africa because he was ill. The Laconia was torpedoed by a German U boat on 12th of September 1942. The ship was full of Italian POW's, civilians and Army personnel. The German's realised their mistake and set about a rescue mission and started rescuing the passengers who were stranded in the sea and crowding lifeboats. Unfortunately, the US allies bombed the German U boat so the rescue mission was abandoned. My grandfather was in a lifeboat for a week until he was picked up by a Vichy French warship and taken to Casablanca where he stayed for 6 weeks until it was liberated by the US. The Laconia incident and was made into a film in 2011 Add to this record.  Related Content: Royal Army Service Corps Royal Army Service Corps Royal Army Service Corps Royal Army Service Corps HMT Laconia Can you help us to add to our records? Add a record to our website. The names and stories on this website have been submitted by their relatives and friends. If your relations are not listed please add their names so that others can read about them Did you or your relatives live through the Second World War? Do you have any photos, newspaper clippings, postcards or letters from that period? Have you researched the names on your local or war memorial? Were you or your relative evacuated? Did an air raid affect your area? If so please let us know. Help us to build a database of information on those who served both at home and abroad so that future generations may learn of their sacrifice. Contact us. Celebrate your own Family History Celebrate by honouring members of your family who served in the Secomd World War both in the forces and at home. We love to hear about the soldiers, but also remember the many who served in support roles, nurses, doctors, land army, muntions workers etc. Please use our Family History resources to find out more about your relatives. Then please send in a short article, with a photo if possible, so that they can be remembered on these pages.

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