Here on Merseyside we have U-Boat U534 sunk early May 1945 when Donitz had ordered all U-Boats to surrender of fly a black flag while at sea. It is now cut up into sections as a tourist attraction and a cartoon image on a poster advertises it. I remember it being brought to Merseyside after being raised in a rusty but compete state. It is a shame U534 was cut up and put in a politically correct state. As a reporter I went aboard as soon as the U-Boat was berthed at Birkenhead, a time machine. The local authority said U-534 was a 'weather sub' and had never sunk an Allied ship.This was not true and I carried a story at the time. U-534's AA gunners were crack marksmen who had shot down a Wellington bomber in 1944. While escaping port during May 3/4/5 period 1945 it was spotted by Coastal Command Liberators that attacked because no black flag was flying. U-534 shot one down but damage during the attack caused its sinking. It went down with the AA-gun still raised in anger. Now I am retired VE Day 75 is a time to reflect. Thanks for letting me share this memory. Dad, a press photographer, took this picture but declined the offer to go aboard. He said ' I spent part of my war filming ways of sinking U-Boats. Why the ### would I want to go on one!'
The year 2012 marked the 100-year anniversary of the sinking on April 14–15, 1912, of the British luxury passenger liner Titanic. The Royal Mail Ship (RMS) Titanic sank during its maiden voyage, en route to New York City from Southampton, Eng., killing more than 1,500 passengers and ship personnel.
