Description
Object description
British evacuee survivor of sinking of SS City of Benares in Atlantic, 9/1940
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Kew, London, GB, 1929-1939: family; education. Aspects of period as schoolchild in GB, 9/1939-9/1940: memories of outbreak of Second World War at Aldwick Bay Estate, Bognor Regis, 3/9/1939; arrival of Canadian troops in Bognor Regis area; education at Woodstock; impact of war on father's business; need for pass to enter coastal area around Bognor Regis; plans for mother and siblings to evacuate to Canada; preparations for evacuation; journey from Bognor Regis to Liverpool. Aspects of period as evacuee aboard SS City of Benares in Atlantic, 13/9/1940-17/9/1940: embarkation in Liverpool; relations with Indian crew; lack of contact with other evacuees; sailing in convoy; lifeboat drills. Recollections of sinking of SS City of Benares and rescue in Atlantic, 9/1940: sounding of alarm when ship was torpedoed by submarine U-48, 18/9/1940; sister's decent into ship; attempt to abandon ship.
REEL 2 Continues: jumping onto raft; witnessing sinking of ship; how Eric Davis pulled raft away from sinking ship; survivors on raft; physical effort to cling to raft; experience of falling from raft and rescue; rescue from life raft by lifeboat from sunken SS Marina; arrival of HMS Hurricane; treatment of survivors by crew of HMS Hurricane; fears for sister Barbara and reunion on board HMS Hurricane; story of Lifeboat 12's seven days at sea; character of life jackets; conditions on life raft; arrival in Glasgow, GB; acquisition of new clothes; telling story to journalists; how father learnt of sinking of ship; media interest in sinking.
REEL 3 Continues: Reflections on experience of sinking of SS City of Benares: story of post-war reunion with Mr Lewis of SS Marina; remembrance of sinking of SS City of Benares; memories of Colin Ryder Richardson; post-war reunions with other survivors; Colin Ryder Richardson's experiences; media coverage of sinking of SS City of Benares in Denmark; return to Bognor Regis; talking about her experiences; memories of V J Day, 8/1945; discussion of later teaching experiences; degree of impact of experiences on life; story of abortive post-war reunion seaman who saved her life; reasons why their escape from ship was delayed.
REEL 4 Continues: mother's reaction to sight of stunned mother and child who later drowned; memories of Eric Davies; physical effects of period on life raft; description of life raft.