Genealogy Chat

The only ship to be sunk by the Germans which carried women and children, does anyone know it's name? Please thanks Lou

Yes. My mother was booked on it and didn't go. I'll phone her and ask the name.

Hi Paul, that's great, apparently so was my mother's family, what a lucky escape, if you could also ask her the year please, I'd be gratefull. Thanks again Lou

CITY OF BENARES (September 17, 1940) City Lines passenger liner of 11,000 tons (Captain Landles Nicoll) carrying some 400 passengers and 99 evacuee children on their way to a new life in Canada, torpedoed by the U-48 (Heinrich Bleichrodt) when 600 miles and five days out from Liverpool, its starting point. A total of 325 souls were drowned including seventy seven of the ninety children on board. Many survivors were picked up by the destroyer HMS Hurricane. This tragedy ended the British Government's Children's Overseas Resettlement Scheme in which 1,530 children were sent to Canada, 577 to Australia, 353 to South Africa, 202 to New Zealand and another 838 children sent to the United States by the American Committee in London.

Hi Paul, that's great and what a lot of info you've supplied, so thanks for that. Now I've got something to go on. Thanks again it's been appreciated. Good hunting to you, Regards Lou

HMT LANCASTRIA was also sunk with women and children on board during evacuation of France on 17th June 1940.A German aircraft bombeb the ship while at anchor off St Nazaire between 6 and 9 THOUSAND lives where lost in the worst British maritime disaster of all time

Hi Les, thanks for responding and for the info. It's much appreciated. I'm amazed all the time by how much information members have available to them, it's a real eye opener, your all so knowledgeable. thanks again Good Hunting to you, Regards Lou

Hi All, On September 3rd. 1939 only hours after Britain declared war the first passenger ship was sunk by a German U-boat. http://www.usmm.net/washington.html Cheers Paul

Hi Paul, thanks for the information, I didn't know about that one either. Thanks Lou

I've just posted a message relevant to this, under the topic 'WW2 Cardiff school log books online'

Ooh! My great aunt was in the Salvation Army, and one little girl she looked after ended up being adopted by an American(?) woman who had lost children on the City of Benares - I have tapes of my G/aunt explaining the story! Just adding this in case this thread attracts more info. xx Jen

Somebody else had posted the following, which is relevant to this thread. Original Added by Tracey Brown on 10/07/2006 01:16:20 WW2 Cardiff school log books online While researching my Cardiff-based ancestors I came across a fascinating resource on the internet. Amongst other things, it documents the names and addresses of Cardiff school-children who were killed when 'The City of Benares' was sunk. In Google search, type: 'The Head of Tongwynlais records' This will bring up 2 entries one in pdf form, the other in html, for 2nd world war log books of Cardiff schools. The details about the casualties can be found on page 68 and possibly on the surrounding pages too. Hope this is useful.

Thanks Paul. I should have duplicated the whole message here myself. Smart thinking!