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This is the story of two boys being evacuated to Canada from Grantham Lincs.( this in itself is unique) in 1940 and details of a reunion in Canada some 50 yrs. later

They literally " missed the boat " when the City of Benares was sunk with the loss of 87 evacuees. documentary evidence to support this was obtained from The Public Records Office.

They travelled on the next and last boat to carry evacuees overseas sponsored by the C.O.R.B.( Childrens Overseas Reception Board )

During the trip being attacked by two "U "boats
when at least two ships were sunk, being an eye witness to one of these going down , then being trailed by a "U" boat for 12 hrs.when it sank another ship from the convoy.Eventually safely arriving at Pier 21 Halifax Nova Scotia.

Details of the various homes and families that they were billeted with including an orphanage,
then the splitting up of the two brothers. The
elder boy travelling again in convoy to return to the U.K. in 1945.

A record of tracing a Canadian family after having lost touch for 45 yrs. and a reunion in Victoria B.C. on the 50th. anniversary of that original crossing.

The writer has many photo`s and newspaper cutings from the time and has compiled some 10,000 words of their experiences.

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