City of Benares Disaster Anniversary

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the torpedoing of the SS City of Benares carrying 90 children being evacuated to Canada under a program operated by the Children's Overseas Reception Board. Thirteen children survived, six having spent seven days in a life boat before they were rescued.

In total 1,532 children arrived in Canada under the CORB program. More than twice as many children of well-off or well-connected families had already come to Canada through private arrangements.