The Tragedy of H.M.S. Dasher
On March 27th 1943 HMS Dasher, a hastily converted aircraft carrier, mysteriously exploded and sank within eight minutes in the Clyde. Of the 528 men on board, only 149 survived. 379 lives were lost. Of the 379 who perished, only 23 were given an official burial. However many more bodies - either brought ashore or washed up on local beaches and possibly burned beyond recognition, lie in unmarked plots. To this day, no acknowledgement has been made of the number or the whereabouts of these unmarked graves. The lasting and callous secrecy has left hundreds of families not knowing what happened to their sons, brothers, relatives or loved ones and most went to their graves still not knowing.
An official Board of Enquiry was hastily convened and within just two days they concluded that the Dasher had sunk due to an internal petrol explosion. However, several key witnesses were not called to give evidence. The official cause of her sinking is still doubtful. It could have been a mine or even possibly sabotage but it could also have been one of the first cases of friendly fire. The findings of the Board of Enquiry were never released until 1972 and even now information is being witheld. This is just part of a veil of secrecy which has surrounded HMS Dasher ever since. Rescuers, survivors and witnesses - everyone with any knowledge of what befell the Dasher in these waters - all were sworn to secrecy.
An important new piece of information may explain the Governments reticence to release all of their records. There is a strong possibility that one of the bodies from the Dasher was used in Operation Mincemeat to dupe the Germans about a possible invasion of Greece at a crucial time of the war in 1943. The loss of HMS Dasher and 379 young lives is still not fully understood by those affected. Mystery still surrounds the sinking, the burial graves and the true identity of the Operation Mincemeat body. Perhaps when all the facts have been revealed, they can be finally laid to rest.
Running time 54 minutes Narrated by Sean Barrett Produced by PR Productions Directed by Peter Rowlands '
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I understand that my husband’s uncle was on HMS Dasher at the time of the sinking. His name was James Graham (although I am vague about his first name). I cannot find his name in the list of those lost. Any suggestions as to how I could find out more?
Pat, you could try Ron Marston of the HMS Dasher 1943 Association for more info.
I am interested also where to find any info ,even to find any names of those aboard, I am doing family tree and I remember my poor aunt (in Cornwall) telling me of her 1st husband, a young newly ,married girl expecting there first child .Then out of the blue the door bell rings and couple (maybe one not sure)a person told her ,husband is in an accident and no survivers ,sorry. That was it. What a shock huh. I mean no one to help her . Sad story and i think it is terrible how people were treated. regards Hazel Lawrence Thank you fro your time , sure would loike to give her some news when I go to U.K in April 1011.
Very good short video.
It’s a shame the truth behind HMS Dashers loss was never reported correctly.
After the accident where many died abandoning ship as a result of the plane crash the ship was actually beached on Ardrossan North beach for a week and was later taken out into the Clyde and scuttled.
The reports that she sank within minutes of the accident are a result of the news coverage at the time censoring news and major military accidents and Whitley inaccurate.
It’s such a shame the incorrect sequence of events has been quoted in years past and many fiction books including this one written on the topic which will largely be taken into the future and laudably believed.
Lest the truth or lives lost on the Dasher be forgotten.