Editing Laconia incident (section)

=== Conclusion ===
From Casablanca, most of the survivors were taken to [[Mediouna, Morocco|Mediouna]] in Morocco to await transport to a prison camp in Germany. On 8&nbsp;November, the [[Operation Torch|Allied invasion of North Africa]] began liberating the survivors, who were taken aboard the ship ''Anton'' which landed them in the United States.<ref>[http://lancastria.org.uk/Lancastria_at_War/Captain_Sharp_Account/Laconia_sinking_account/laconia_sinking_account.html Laconia Sinking Account] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121224012822/http://lancastria.org.uk/Lancastria_at_War/Captain_Sharp_Account/Laconia_sinking_account/laconia_sinking_account.html|date=2012-12-24}} Merchant Navy Association</ref>

Doris Hawkins, a missionary nurse, survived the ''Laconia'' incident and spent 27&nbsp;days adrift in Lifeboat Nine, finally coming ashore on the coast of Liberia. She was returning to England after five years in [[Mandatory Palestine|Palestine]] with 14-month-old Sally Kay Readman,{{sfn|War Graves Commission}} who was lost to the sea as they were transferred into the lifeboat.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dimbleby |first=Jonathan |date=April 6, 2016 |title=Gloves Off: The Battle of The Atlantic |url=https://www.historynet.com/battle-of-atlantic-laconia/ |access-date=September 25, 2023 |website=Historynet}}</ref>

Doris Hawkins wrote a pamphlet titled "Atlantic Torpedo" after her eventual return to England, published by Victor Gollancz in 1943. In it she writes of the moments when Sally was lost: "We found ourselves on top of the arms and legs of a panic-stricken mass of humanity. The lifeboat, filled to capacity with men, women and children, was leaking badly and rapidly filling with water; at the same time it was crashing against the ship's side. Just as Sally was passed over to me, the boat filled completely and capsized, flinging us all into the water. I lost her. I did not hear her cry even then, and I am sure that God took her immediately to Himself without suffering. I never saw her again."{{sfn|Hawkins|1943|p=9}}

Doris Hawkins was one of 16 survivors (out of&nbsp;69 in the lifeboat when it was cast adrift from the U-boat). She spent the remaining war years personally visiting the families of people who perished in the lifeboat, returning mementos entrusted to her by them in their dying moments. In Doris's words, "It is impossible to imagine why I should have been chosen to survive when so many did not. I have been reluctant to write the story of our experiences, but in answer to many requests I have done so; and if it strengthens someone's faith, if it is an inspiration to any, if it brings home to others, hitherto untouched, all that '[[Psalm 107|those who go down to the sea in ships]]' face for our sakes, hour by hour, day by day, year in and year out—it will not have been written in vain".{{sfn|Hawkins|1943|p=48}}

Survivor Jim McLoughlin states in ''One Common Enemy'' that after the incident Hartenstein asked him if he was in the [[Royal Navy]], which he was, then why a passenger ship was armed, stating, "If it wasn't armed, I would not have attacked." McLoughlin believes this indicates Hartenstein had thought it was a troop transport rather than a passenger ship; by signalling to the Royal Navy, ''Laconia'' was acting as a {{lang|la|de facto}} [[auxiliary ship]].{{sfn|McLoughlin|2006|p=}}