World War II: The Sinking of a Passenger Ship and the Survival of Two Children at Sea

On September 3, 1940, the SS City of Benares was torpedoed by a German U-boat, killing 258 people, including 90 children. Two of the survivors were children, 7-year-old Elaine and 5-year-old John Savage. The children were thrown into the water and clung to a piece of debris for hours before being rescued.

Torpedoed!: A World War II Story of a Sinking Passenger Ship and Two Children's Survival at Sea

by Cheryl Mullenbach

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4027 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	176 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

The SS City of Benares was a British passenger ship that was sailing from Liverpool to Canada. On board were 406 passengers and crew, including 90 children who were being evacuated from the United Kingdom to Canada.

At around 11:00 pm on September 3, 1940, the SS City of Benares was torpedoed by German U-boat U-48. The ship sank in just 12 minutes.

Elaine and John Savage were two of the children who were on board the SS City of Benares. They were both thrown into the water when the ship sank. Elaine grabbed onto a piece of debris and held on for dear life. John was not as fortunate. He was swept away by the current and drowned.

Elaine clung to the piece of debris for hours. She was eventually rescued by a British destroyer.

Elaine's story is a testament to the courage and resilience of the human spirit. She survived a horrific tragedy and went on to live a long and happy life.

The Sinking of the SS City of Benares

The SS City of Benares was a British passenger ship that was built in 1936. The ship was 530 feet long and weighed 11,857 tons. It had a capacity of 406 passengers and crew.

The SS City of Benares was sailing from Liverpool to Canada on September 3, 1940, when it was torpedoed by German U-boat U-48. The ship sank in just 12 minutes.

There were 406 passengers and crew on board the SS City of Benares, including 90 children. Of the 406 people on board, 258 were killed. The majority of the victims were children.

The sinking of the SS City of Benares was a tragedy. It was one of the worst maritime disasters of World War II.

The Survival of Elaine Savage

Elaine Savage was one of the children who survived the sinking of the SS City of Benares. She was 7 years old at the time.

When the ship was torpedoed, Elaine was thrown into the water. She grabbed onto a piece of debris and held on for dear life. She was in the water for hours before she was rescued by a British destroyer.

Elaine's story is a testament to the courage and resilience of the human spirit. She survived a horrific tragedy and went on to live a long and happy life.

The Legacy of the SS City of Benares

The sinking of the SS City of Benares was a tragedy, but it also had a lasting legacy. The tragedy helped to raise awareness of the dangers that children faced during World War II. It also led to the establishment of the Children's Overseas Reception Board, which helped to evacuate children from the United Kingdom to Canada.

The legacy of the SS City of Benares is one of hope and resilience. The tragedy showed that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.

Torpedoed!: A World War II Story of a Sinking Passenger Ship and Two Children's Survival at Sea

by Cheryl Mullenbach

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4027 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	176 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE