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

 

Yesterday, I finished reading Torpedoed: The True Story of the World War II Sinking of "The Children's Ship" by Deborah Heiligman. This unforgettable nonfiction book is an account of the sinking of the SS City of Benares in September 1940. Because the Germans were bombing England during World War II, parents had the opportunity to send their children out of the country through the Children's Overseas Reception Board (CORB) program if they were between the ages of five and fifteen. On September 13, the SS City of Benares, which became known as the Children's Ship, set sail for Canada with one hundred children on board. These children enjoyed playing, reading, and eating during the first five days of the trip. They especially loved the ice cream. In a devastating turn of events, the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat the night of September 17 during a turbulent storm. Although the ship had enough lifeboats for everyone and held lifeboat drills, the conditions of this night were a significant factor and evacuating the ship was a challenge for both the passengers and the crew. In the midst of tragedy, many heroes emerged.

One of the most suspenseful pieces of narrative nonfiction I have ever read, this true story is absolutely riveting, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, especially during the last part of book when the focus was on the survival of the people on lifeboat 12 who weren't rescued for eight days. Each time I read about a child dying during the tragedy, I would shed some tears and feel awful for the parents. I definitely admired the heroic actions of the survivors; including CORB escort Mary Cornish, CORB child Jack Keeley, and BBC reporter Eric Davis; and some of the victims, including Michael Rennie, another CORB escort, and George Crawford, another CORB child. Despite my horror and heartache, I also enjoyed the friendship of two of the CORB girls, Beth Cummings and Bess Walder. Their determination to survive on an overturned lifeboat was admirable. All in all, I wish I had learned about the tragedy of this disaster sooner. It may not have the magnitude of the Titanic, but the loss of children broke my heart, especially when they were supposed to be going to safety during World War II. Anyone who is interested in ship disasters and survival tales should read Torpedoed.