An unforgettable story of children in wartime, of heroism at sea, and -- above all -- of courage and the power of the human spirit On September 17, 1940, at a little after ten at night, a German submarine torpedoed the passenger liner S.S. City of Benares in the North Atlantic. There were 406 people on board, but the ship's prized passengers were 90 children whose parents had elected to send their boys and girls away from Great Britain to escape the ravages of World War II. They were considered lucky, headed for quiet, peaceful, and relatively bountiful Canada. The Benares sank in half an hour, in a gale that sent several of her lifeboats pitching into the frigid sea. They were more than five hundred miles from land, three hundred miles from the nearest rescue vessel. Miracles on the Water tells the astonishing story of the survivors -- not one of whom had any reasonable hope of rescue as the ship went down. The initial "miracle" involves one British destroyer's race to the scene, against time and against the elements; the second is the story of Lifeboat 12, missed by the destroyer and left out on the water, 46 people jammed in a craft built and stocked for 30. Those people lasted eight days on little food and tiny rations of drinking water. The survivors have grappled ever since with questions about the Should the Benares have been better protected? How and why did they persevere? What role did faith and providence play in the outcome? Based on first hand accounts from the child survivors and other passengers, including the author's great-uncle, Miracles on the Water brings us the story of the attack on the Benares and the extraordinary events that followed.
I'm a voracious reader of "disaster" books (as long as they're well written), and this one definitely was. Based on an incident involving a passenger liner that was relocating 90 British children to Canada as part of an evacuation program, the author has a personal connection with the tale -- his great uncle had been aboard the ship and had been presumed dead.
This book could have been unbearably bleak, for the loss was awful, but the author concentrates on the heroism and spirit of the survivors, which makes it instead a tale of redemption. He does it without crossing the line over into overt sentimentality, though I have to confess to shedding some tears at the end.
Another thing that I really enjoyed is what a fine job Nagorski did of delineating each character. There were dozens of children and adults whose actions, emotions, and fate he chronicled, but he managed to make them distinct so that I rarely felt that sense of, "Now wait a minute, which one is this?" that I sometimes feel when reading a historical account. The book is briskly paced, vividly told, and has a firm moral compass.
This book is absolutely life changing. I love a good survival story. What I came away with was a sense of awe and wonder at the strength of the human spirit. A renewed strength to fight my own battles head on and with a positive energy; to remind myself “I am a survivor” in my own right. So heartbreaking to think of the parents who sent their child/ren away thinking they’d be safer that way only to find that they were sending their children to their death. I can’t imagine the grief! But reading the stories of those who survived really makes you think about how you can tackle your problems differently and be grateful for each day you’re given.
This is the story of the British liner S.S. City of Benares. Torpedoed by a German submarine in the north Atlantic over 600 miles from Briton. The prized passengers on the City of Benares were children being transported to Canada to escape the war and constant air raids. They would go there for a better safer life away from war, this was the plan. But due to a German U boat, this would not come to pass.
This story is one I won't soon forget! It was sad in parts, but tells a story of great courage, heroism, and perseverance on the water! It tells the triumph of the human spirit in circumstances most of us hope to never find ourselves in, and have no clue what we'd do in such a situation. This book has true miracles in it, and it reminds me that there are truly wonderful people that walk this earth. Among all the bad we hear to read about such people is refreshing to me! This was a great book! I am not sure I can do it justice in this review, but I would totally recommend it! Some books are so touching and leave you with so much, that words aren't enough to describe it all. The only thing that truly can is the book itself! Well written, a great book!
September, 1940 was a difficult time for the people of Great Britain. Night after night, German bombs fell. On September 13, 1940 a passenger liner, the S.S. City of Benares, sailed from Liverpool with 406 passengers on board, including 90 British children in route to Canada to escape the bombing and possible death. But that was not to be. On the night of September 17th, a German submarine torpedoed the ship, sending passengers and crew scrambling into lifeboats in the stormy north Atlantic. The ship sank within thirty minutes.
This is the story of those passengers, children and crew. It is one of the most compelling books I have read. Survival, triumph of the human spirit and personal sacrifice are elements of the story one would expect, but the fact that any one of these souls survived is truly remarkable. As I was reading, I kept asking myself 'why is this a story I have never heard before'? Readers are blessed that Tom Nagorski and the survivors have brought this story to light.
This is not a sanitized easy-to-read account, so have your tissues handy. I think you will come away with a feeling of pride and thankfulness for most involved, and an appreciation for miracles.
4.5 stars - wow! I never knew this harrowing story and it was so interesting to learn about the perseverance of the children evacuees, their escorts, and additional passengers. Even though this is a nonfiction book, Tom Nagorski does an amazing job of drawing his reader in. I couldn’t put it down!
When I first started this book I could only read a few pages and would have to take a break because it is so intense. As I got more involved, I was there in the water with the people, hanging on for my life. Tom Nagorski tells this story so well and so vividly and I recommend this book to everyone.
I loved this book. It is a gripping true story of of the survivors in Life Boat 12 after a U-Boat sinks their ship in the North Atlantic. This book is filled with tragedy as so many do not survive but I was deeply touched at the sacrifices that some were willing to make and the power of the human spirit.
This was chosen by a friend for a book club that I am involved with, and I'm so glad she suggested it! It was a great read. It was amazing to me all the miracles that took place during this whole ordeal.
I love buying and reading these types of books. Boats, yachts, historical events and books about the sea are generally excellent. If there are sequels in your series, I would love to read them.
The beauties of owning the books of important authors cannot be discussed. I'm looking forward to your new books.
For friends who want to read this book, I leave the importance of reading a book here. I wish good luck to the sellers and customers...
Top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:
1. Reading Exercises the Brain
As we read, we need to remember the different characters and settings of a particular story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you need to remember the details during the time you devote to reading the book. Therefore, reading is an exercise for your brain that improves memory function.
2. Reading Is a (free) Form of Entertainment
Did you know that most of the popular TV series and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading? Most importantly, it's free with your Markham Public Library card.
3. Reading Improves Concentration and Focus
We all agree that there can be no reading without focus, and we need to concentrate on every page we read to fully understand the story. In a world where gadgets only speed up and shorten our attention span, we must constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, so it improves your ability to concentrate.
4. Reading Improves Literacy
Have you ever read a book where you come across a word you don't know? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary will improve as well as your ability to communicate effectively. Also, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.
5. Reading Improves Sleep
By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it's time to sleep. Now more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. That's why you put your phone away and pick up a book and tell your brain it's time to calm down. Also, since reading helps you relieve stress, reading right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
6. Reading Increases General Knowledge
Books are always full of fun and interesting facts. Whether we read fiction or non-fiction, books have the ability to provide us with information we might not otherwise know. Reading various topics can make you a more knowledgeable person and therefore improve your speaking skills.
7. Reading Is Motivating
By reading books about heroes overcoming adversity, we are often encouraged to do the same. Whether it's a romance novel or a self-help book, the right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive.
This book is my introduction to the brilliant Tom Nagorski whose personal connection to the story shines through in every paragraph. He’s an amazing writer and researcher.
This breathtaking true story has so much tragedy written through it, it’s a wonder how a bright side is able to be found, but Nagorski manages to find it and make it shine through. The torpedo that struck The SS City of Benares catapulted not only the lives that were on the ship, but the entire nation of Great Britain. Lives of evacuated children, of noble adults and a large crew blinked out in an instant in such harrowing conditions, affecting families throughout the nation. The survivors were few but nonetheless, their stories still have positive notes to them. They’ve become stronger. They’ve beaten the odds once and some of them continued to do so throughout the rest of their lives.
The flow of the narrative is amazing. Everything is comprehensible, put into an order that I can’t imagine being any more fluid, and does create personal relationships with the people written about. You remember names, you imagine faces (even though there are pictures), and it’s impossible to really understand what these people had gone through, even as you read it on the page.
Although many disasters had happened during WWII that get a lot of attention, I feel that Benares is underappreciated. There’s a story to be told there. Not a single one of the passengers, living or dead, should be forgotten. I regard Nagorski kindly for putting this volume out but I can imagine a film that would draw in more interest. Before my sudden absorption into tales of shipwrecks, I had not heard of this story. I should be better known.
All in all, I would recommend this book to a wide variety of people. It humbles, it motivates, and it haunts the reader after it’s been read.
After reading Lifeboat 12, a new kids book about the sinking of the City of Benares in 1940, I had to know more. While that book focuses on one child's experience in one lifeboat, this covers the stories of many people, with a lot of different experiences. Part one is devoted to the adults and children who were picked up after 18 hours of being in lifeboats and on rafts in storms and winds. It was utterly devastating. One family lost five of their children (a week after losing their home.) 77 of 90 children being evacuated to Canada died. 118 of 402 people on board died. Despite daily practices of lifeboats, nothing went right, largely because of weather and a ship on its way down. Only one lifeboat didn't take on dangerous amounts of water once hitting the ocean--the one that moved faster, far from the others, and wasn't found for 8 days. That's Lifeboat 12, which got its own section here.
Definitely recommended for people interested in the Titanic and other shipwrecks. It was great to see photos of the passengers and crew, and the survivors even into the 90s and 00s. Two survivors who had been great friends spent their 18 hours together on an overturned lifeboat, and one married the brother of the other. Others stayed friends for life. Really fascinating and well written account.
Superbly researched and written; fascinating, vivid read!
Miracle on the Water is especially worthy because of the depths of the research done and the superb writing by the author. All descriptions become visually tangible taking one from the 2-dimensional page to the vast, swelling, harrowing Atlantic before and after the sinking of the City of Benares in September 1940. I especially appreciated that Nagorski gave the thorough background on the sailing, the passengers, the experience, and followed this through to years after the attack, losses, and survival rather than just ending the story when the last few survivors were rescued. This approach embodies the description of a lived experience. Whether one is interested in WWII or not is of no consequence here. This is an excellent page turner!
An extraordinarily heartbreaking account of a Nazi U-boat's torpedoing of British liner "City of Benares" that was ferrying 100 children along with 300 other passengers out of London during The Blitz in September 1940. Most of the passengers drowned despite countless lifeboat drills and painstaking precautions prior to the trip. Miraculously, some passengers survived. This is their story. Most galling, however, is that the captain of U-boat 48, Heinrich Bleichrodt, was found innocent of any wrongdoing at the Nuremberg trials at the end of WWII and lived as a free man until he passed away at age 67.
Excellent book! It is the story of the sinking of the S.S. City of Benares which at the time had 90 children being evacuated from England to North America. The majority of the book is a real pager turner. You just have to find out what is going to happen to everybody. The part about Lifeboat 12 is a little slower but still interesting, mainly because not much happens in a lifeboat adrift for a week except survival.
There are a number of photos plus follow-up stories about a number of the main survivors which is a bonus in a book like this. Well worth reading!
Amazing investigation work by Tom Nagorski, I feel very lucky to be able to read now what happened to one of my relatives on lifeboat 12, 80 years ago. The book goes beyond duty of remembrance, it describes vividly life in Britain during wartime and depicts how a minority of people survived in the Atlantic Ocean after their boat was torpedoed
I found this book profoundly riveting. It seemed like almost every page left me stunned at the horrifying challenges the victims of the Nazi attack were forced to cope with. As I'd turn the page, I'd think, It can't get any worse, can it? But it could and did. The strength and courage of the victims is gripping. I shed more than a few tears before I set this on my shelf.
After a slow start describing the individuals and families involved, the pace picked up and I definitely enjoyed this book about an ill-fated liner in 1940 and the survival and rescue of some of the passengers and crew. As the story unfolded, it became a real page-turner. Would have given it 4.5 stars if that was possible.
an amazing account of a little known tragedy and heroism!
This book was so well researched and truly well written. The details put you right there in all of the action! Remarkable heroism! Truly an inspiring book!
Well written, very good story capturing the heart and soul of what happened on the ship as well as the lifeboats especially # 12 after 1 week on the water.
An unforgettable story of children in wartime, of heroism at sea, and--above all--of courage and the power of the human spirit
On September 17, 1940, at a little after ten at night, a German submarine torpedoed the passenger liner S.S. City of Benares in the North Atlantic. There were 406 people on board, but the ship's prized passengers were 90 children whose parents had elected to send their boys and girls away from Great Britain to escape the ravages of World War II. They were considered lucky, headed for quiet, peaceful, and relatively bountiful Canada.
The Benares sank in half an hour, in a gale that sent several of her lifeboats pitching into the frigid sea. They were more than five hundred miles from land, three hundred miles from the nearest rescue vessel.
Miracles on the Water tells the astonishing story of the survivors--not one of whom had any reasonable hope of rescue as the ship went down. The initial "miracle" involves one British destroyer's race to the scene, against time and against the elements; the second is the story of Lifeboat 12, missed by the destroyer and left out on the water, 46 people jammed in a craft built and stocked for 30. Those people lasted eight days on little food and tiny rations of drinking water. The survivors have grappled ever since with questions about the ordeal: Should the Benares have been better protected? How and why did they persevere? What role did faith and providence play in the outcome?
Based on first-hand accounts from the child survivors and other passengers, including the author's great-uncle, Miracles on the Water brings us the story of the attack on the Benares and the extraordinary events that followed.
I just finished reading Miracles on the Water' - about a passenger liner (City of Benares) that was torpedoed in 1940 while crossing the north Atlantic. The passengers included ninety English children being evacuated to North America. Hundreds of passengers died and there were hardly any survivors.
One lifeboat lasted 8 freezing days in the big waves, and was one of the very few picked up. The young boys on that lifeboat were kept alive by a 41 year old teacher, Mary Cornish, who massaged their limbs and kept up spirits with songs and stories. One way she did the latter was inventing chapters of Bulldog Drummond action hero stories for them, making it up as she went about secret wirelesses, code breakers, captures and escapes and endless adventures. Turns out Bulldog Drummond began as a pulp novel in 1920, inspired by Sherlock Holmes and other WWI era pulp novels, and ended up inspiring the James Bond novels in 1953.
Those children never forgot Mary Cornish and the stories she told them. She was awarded the Medal of the British Empire (MBE) for 'valor at sea.' In 2011 author Julie Summers was able to fill out the rest of the Mary Cornish story in her book 'When the Children Came Home' - and how until Mary's death in 1964 Mary was remembered as a vibrant story teller and musician.
Non fiction account of children sent via the passenger liner SS "City of Benares" to the supposed safety of Canada to escape the bombing of Britain. However, the ship was torpedoed by a Nazi submarine. Written by the great nephew of one of the survivors the author relied on extensive interviews with survivors as well as documentation of this awful tragedy. Due to procedural mistakes as well as the timing of the sinking, during a horrible storm, of the 400 passengers and crew there were only 148 survivors with only 15 of the 92 children surviving. To me there were only two miracles: the first was lifeboat 12 which was not picked up by the rescue vessel (when one finally arrived) and made it halfway back to Ireland after an incredible 8 days on its own with scant water before finally accidently being discovered and rescued. All aboard this lifeboat survived (including the authors great uncle) due to the personalities and planning of the people on board. This boat also had 7 of the 15 surviving children on board. The second miracle was two girl friends who had to hang onto the keel of their overturned lifeboat with their fingers in icy water, freezing wind and huge waves for a long night and day. There were some notable heroic deeds especially by children and a great deal of tragedy.