Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship"

Barbara Bech was in the last lifeboat that the Hurricane rescued. Her mother was “overjoyed” to have her family reunited, and Barbara was surprised Mrs. Bech had been so worried. She had spent the night on the lifeboat, calmly assured that her mother and siblings were safe.

Bess Walder was still desperate for news of her little brother. The ship’s doctor tried to reassure her that many parents would have no children coming home, so her parents wouldn’t hold her responsible for losing her brother, but this did nothing to make Bess feel better.

Louis Walder had been on lifeboat 11 with Michael Rennie, one of the CORB boys’ favorite chaperones. All through the night, Michael repeatedly dove into the sea to save children, but eventually, the cold got to Michael and killed him, along with most of the children he rescued. When their lifeboat was finally rescued, Louis and one other boy were the only two survivors out of 15 CORB children on board.

Bess was “sick and sad” in her room until the captain himself knocked on her door, announcing he had “a present” for her and producing her brother (194). Bess was overjoyed, but she didn’t at first realize just how lucky she was.