大象传媒

This story A7349808 has been submitted by The British Schools Museum on behalf of Mrs Betty Goble, with her permission.

At the time war was imminent, parents were offered the opportunity to send their children abroad, free of charge, for safety. Some went to Australia, others to America, or South Africa, etc.

My two older sisters were due to be evacuated to Brighton with their secondary school but our little brother was only a few months old so he was staying at home.

It must have been a very difficult decision for my parents to make but they put my name down to sail to Canada in September on the S. S. City of Benares. They filled in the necessary forms and I had a medical before being accepted for a place.

How fortunate I was that they changed their minds and my name was withdrawn. Tragically this ship was torpedoed part-way across the Atlantic.

She had set sail on 13th September 1939 with some fare-paying passengers. The ship was in a merchant navy convoy but somehow became separated from her escort when she was hit. Many people, crew, passengers, and children lost their lives. Only a few were saved.

Other stories from Mrs Goble can be found at articles A4422980, A4422917, A4423033, A7349259, A7349493

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