A WORCESTERSHIRE woman who is the youngest known survivor of the worst maritime disaster in British history watched on as a memorial dedicated to the victims was unveiled. Jacqueline Tanner, aged 74, was only two years old when she was aboard HMT Lancastria when it was attacked by a German bomber 71 years ago.

It sank off the coast of France at St Nazaire in less than 20 minutes on June 17, 1940, taking the lives of about 4,000 people with it.

It was the largest single loss of life for British forces in the Second World War.

A ceremony took place on Saturday on the banks of the river Clyde in Glasgow at the site where HMT Lancastria was built and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond unveiled the bronze sculpture which is set on a granite block and has a commemorative text.

Mrs Tanner, formerly Jacqueline Tillyer, of Malvern, said: “The memorial is a place where we can all come to remember.

“It’s a long way for me, and I’d like something in England too, but this what we needed. It’s part of our history.”

Mrs Tanner’s parents are said to have held her out of the water for more than two hours before they were rescued. She had to be revived and still has the sailor’s jersey in which she was wrapped by her rescuer.

HMT Lancastria was heading for France to rescue up to 150,000 troops left behind following the Battle of Dunkirk when the bombing happened.

It is claimed the disaster was played down by the government at the time due to the low morale of the country during the war.

Mark Hirst, whose grandfather Walter Hirst, from Dundee, survived the disaster, is the founder of the Lancastria Association and secured the site for the memorial. He said: “The memorial to the victims of the Lancastria is a fitting tribute to those who died.”