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

A convoy is a group of ships or other vehicles that travel together for mutual support. In wartime, they are often accompanied by warships or armed troops for defense from enemy fire. During World War II, ships carrying things like supplies or civilian evacuees in and out of Britain often traveled in a convoy. The City of Benares, for example, was part of a convoy of 19 ships, escorted by three Royal Navy warships. This made the ship safer, as U-boats were less likely to fire, and other ships were there to help in the event of an attack. However, it also meant the ships had to travel more slowly, which meant they spent more time in dangerous waters.

The Children’s Overseas Reception Board, or CORB, was a government program that evacuated British children to Commonwealth nations like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa during World War II. The program was controversial; some considered evacuating children to be defeatist, and others worried about the risks children faced sailing through dangerous waters. Furthermore, families had to send their children away with no idea when they would see them again. In total, three ships carrying CORB children were hit by German torpedoes, but the City of Benares was by far the most catastrophic loss.