description SS City of Benares Overview
SS City of Benares was a British passenger liner used during the Second World War to carry passengers and evacuees across the Atlantic. On 17 September 1940, the German submarine U-48 torpedoed the ship while it was sailing for Canada as part of a convoy. Of the 90 children aboard under the Children's Overseas Reception Board evacuation scheme, 77 died; 258 people were killed overall. The disaster contributed to the suspension of the government-sponsored overseas evacuation program.
help SS City of Benares FAQ
What caused the sinking of the SS City of Benares?
The British passenger liner was torpedoed by the German submarine U-48 on September 17, 1940, during World War II. The ship was traveling in a convoy as part of an overseas evacuation scheme to safely transport children to Canada.
How many child evacuees died in the SS City of Benares disaster?
Tragically, 77 of the 90 child evacuees on board lost their lives when the ship sank in the treacherous Atlantic waters. The heavy loss of life prompted the British government to immediately halt all overseas civilian evacuation programs.
Who was the commander of the U-boat that sank the SS City of Benares?
Kapitänleutnant Heinrich Bleichrodt was the commander of German submarine U-48 when it torpedoed the City of Benares. He later claimed he was completely unaware that the ship was carrying civilian evacuees and children.
Were there any notable survivors of the SS City of Benares sinking?
Yes, Lifeboat 12 drifted in the Atlantic for eight days before being rescued, containing 46 survivors including six evacuee boys. A crew member named Mary Cornish, a pianist accompanying the children, helped keep morale up and tended to the injured on the lifeboat.
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