An Unlikely Hero

Dr Michael Crooks enlightened the Club about his Uncle Jimmy at our lunch meeting on Friday 11th October.

Uncle Jimmy was on board the Lacunia sailing from Cape Town to he UK in september1942 when it was torpedoed and sunk by a U boat commanded by Admiral Harkenstein.There were some 2500 Italian prisoners on baord and the U boat called in others to help resue those in the water.However in spite of Red Cross Flags draped on the surfaced U boats an american bomber attackeed and bombed them with the result the U boats had to dive resulting in the drowning of many of those who could have been  rescued.Uncle Jimmy was amongst the many survivors who made it to Ascernsion Island.

The unlikel hero was Admiral Harkenstein who was later reprimanded by the German command for puting his U boat at risk by rescuing those in the water.

VP Paul introduced Dr Mike Crooks seen here with Presient John