WISH ME LUCK
Tarek Nigam
Mrs. Snowden
ENG-1D8
May 1st
Wish Me Luck
Note:
The novel is based on the true story of the sinking of the passenger liner City of Benares. According to Barker's account, there were ninety government-sponsored (CORB) evacuee children on the ship and ten additional children who had been privately paid for, four of whom did not survive. The final total of CORB children who died after the sinking of the Benares was seventy-seven, and not eighty-three, as stated in newspaper: it was discovered eight days after the sinking that further six children (and a group of adults) had survived in a crowded but unflooded lifeboat that had managed to make it almost all the way to Ireland, a distance more than six hundred miles, before being spotted by a British aircraft and rescued. The two torpedoed ships, Benares and Marina, were abandoned by the rest of the convoy: not one of the other ships searched for survivors, nut made away from the scene as fast as they could. The original destroyer escort, HMS Winchelsea, was not ordered back for rescue duty. The rescue vessel, HMS Hurricane, took eighteen hours to reach the scene. It is certain that had there been a rescue ship nearer at hand, there would have been many more survivors. It seems almost certain also that if the Benares had left the convoy, and sailed at her normal speed (faster) speed after the destroyer escort left, then the U-boat would never have caught her. From the point of view of the German U-boat, U-48, the Benares was the flagship, the biggest and most important ship in the convoy. The total number of people who lost their lives, passenger and crew, in the City of Benares was 256; the total number of survivors, 150. Only nineteen out of the one hundred children survived.
I. Chapter 1:
. Tom Bleeker, "he looked tough and mean. He looked dangerous...he had black hair, uncombed and dirty, cut by his mom with a potato peeler, it looked like." (Heneghan 3)
2. He was mocked of his "scruffy appearance and his lack of a uniform" (4) then he was mocked of his accent; "Dayn" instead of "down", and "hays" instead of "house" (4). Mainly, though, it was the way he acted so tough; he "struts about like a landlord" (4).
3. "He had come to Liverpool from Northern Ireland so his dad could try to fink work in the munitions factory" (4). He lived right next to Jamie Monaghan (the main character) and was the new kid attending. He had a little sister Elsie, in her first year in infants.
4. Jamie Monaghan attended St. Oswald's School and the war was just one year old (4), "American gangster movies were popular in spite the war" (4), he was thirteen years old, Tom Bleeker was about Jamie Monaghan's size. He was in Miss O'Hara's class along with "[his] three pals, Charlie McCauley, Bren O'Dougherty, and Gordie Darwin" (5) along with Tom Bleeker
5. In Jamie's Old Swan district there was hardily any signs of a war, aside "for a few bombs on the docks, the Germans had done practically nothing to Liverpool for a whole year...[you wouldn't have know there was a war if it wasn't for the] noisy air-raid siren tests, and the sight of the little kids carrying their gas masks"
6. "There had been wild bombing raids on Fighter Command bases in the south and southeast areas of England, and on the City of London, but in Old Swan, the war was only a distant rumble" (6).
7. Stinky Corcoran was the strongest fighter in the whole school
8. Stinky Corcoran fights Tom Bleeker even though "Bleeker's only half the size of Stinky Corcoran" (7), which results in a draw
9. There was some sort of racism towards foreigners, for instance, the fight between Corcoran and Bleeker was ignited to "to see [Bleeker] [a] foreigner, flattened, [and] put in his place" (7)
0. "Dirty fighting meant punching below the belt, or using your elbows, knees, or feet- kicking was the worst thing [anyone] could possibly do. First-class cowards ran away; second-class cowards kicked. Clean fighting was fists only, like James Cageny in City for Conquest or like William Holden in Golden Boy." (8)
II. Chapter 2
I. There is an alarm system in place in Liverpool, at the sight of a German plane (Stuka or Heinkel), the alarm would be triggered sending the people into bomb shelters
II. Some kids carried sticks that had one side that was sharpened around with them in case a "German paratrooper fell out of the sky" (16)
III. This is a cause of the fear spread through the war propaganda
IV. Many people built air-raid shelter, for instance, there is a "backyard air-raid shelter which [many] people have fixed ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
II. Chapter 2
I. There is an alarm system in place in Liverpool, at the sight of a German plane (Stuka or Heinkel), the alarm would be triggered sending the people into bomb shelters
II. Some kids carried sticks that had one side that was sharpened around with them in case a "German paratrooper fell out of the sky" (16)
III. This is a cause of the fear spread through the war propaganda
IV. Many people built air-raid shelter, for instance, there is a "backyard air-raid shelter which [many] people have fixed up, cozy almost, like a den, with table and chairs, and carpet remnants from Lewis's on the concrete floor" (16)
V. Jamie compares Gloria as a "nineteen [year old], a real gorgeous bit of all right with long dark hair and big blue eyes, built long and slim like a Wellington bomber with two power-operated gun turrets" (17). This tells us that kids were eager about the war, and know quiet well about the weaponry used in the war
VI. Woman were generally eager to date people in the military during this period like Gloria, Gordie's sister, Jamie's friend, is been dating a guy named Dave ever since he joined the RAF (Royal Air Force), details page 18
VII. Some people were joining the Axis power like Lord William Joyace, and were broadcasting messages such as, "lay down your arms...resistance is useless! The people of England will curse themselves for having preferred ruin from Churchill to peace with Hitler" (19) and were spreading fear through England
VIII. "Wave after wave of bombers, hundreds and hundreds of them, bombing the bejaysus out of [London]...the east end of London is destroyed. There's thousands killed. And as many homeless, wandering the streets. People are leaving their homes every day before the bombing starts, grabbing their kids and their blankets, and they're all of traipsing to the countryside, pushing prams, riding on buses, hitching, anything to get away...in the morning when the raid is over, they go back home" (20). This ignites fear that if more people push into the countryside (Liverpool) the Germans would begin to bomb Liverpool
Chapter 3
I. When Bleeker go to school the next day, after fighting Cocarner, Beryl Oyler, the most beautiful girl at school, sat beside him. This shows us that at that time girls would normally admire men with great physical strength
II. Many women were urged to join the war efforts, become nurses to "bathe and cleanse the wounds of brave soldiers" (23)
III. Bleeker regrets fighting Corcarn, he tells Jamie "People shouldn't fight. If people didn't fight, there wouldn't be no war" (26). This shows Bleeker's maturity in comparison with the other kids at school; who just want to fight like in the American gangster movies
IV. The kids are extremely excited about the idea of an air-raid in Liverpool, as the sirens signalled an air-raid (an actually one) Jamie insists on stepping outside to witness the anti-aircraft guns firing at the German Junkers 88, not realizing the enormous danger in doing so. As well, the adults do not run for the bomb shelters they watch from their back-yards at the green and orange lights, white searchlight beams, gleaming balloons, and puffs of smoke that filled the sky not realizing the danger in doing so. So this tells us that the people in Liverpool are yet unaware of the horrors of WWII. Also, the bombing continued Jamie's family did not enter their bomb shelter until the Bleeker's family came and asked to use their bomb shelter with them. The ironic thing is that the Jamie's family acted so calm even though the bombing was taking place on the other side of Liverpool. Jamie's mom says, "We never use the shelter" (32) because most of the families hide under the stairs.
V. Jamie's mom name is Nan Monaghan and his father's name is Jack
VI. "The sky was bright, red like blood. It looked like the whole city was on fire" (37)
VII. "The drum of the planes, the pounding of the guns, the bombs whistling down and exploding and rocking the streets with their blasts". The Luftwaffe (German Air force) had bases in Paris since it fell in June, and used those bases to attack the English
VIII. " ARP wardens, who were old geezers and old biddies responsible for the supervision of the air-raid precautions" (39)
Chapter 4
I. After the air-raid that nearly destroyed Liverpool, and spread fear amongst the people, Jamie's mother insists that he "[doesn't] for [his] gas mask...[because] the Jerries'll be dropping the gas on us"(44) this tells us that finally the people in Liverpool are grasping the horrors of Hitler's War
II. "The houses were all identical: terraced brick, two bedrooms and bathroom up, two rooms down, no basement, freezing in the winter. There was a fireplace for coal or coke, and this provided the only warmth as well as heating the copper tank behind the fireplace for the once a week bath...the houses had no front yards, just a bit of iron railing and a privet hedge. The rent, ten bob a week, was collected every Saturday morning" (44)
III. The next day "the street was full of debris after the raid, everything from bricks, shattered charcoal colored roof slates, and glass shards from all the broken windows to huge limps of masonry and chimney pots" (45)
IV. Many kids were being sent away from England due to the fear that Hitler might "gas" London or even Liverpool after recent air raids, like Bren, Patm and Goride and his sister, especially to Ireland.
V. Many schools started to practice gas mask drills more seriously and occasionally after the air-raid
Chapter 5
* Jamie's mother and father discuss the options of sending Jamie to Ireland where its much safer since it's a neutral country and isn't a target for the Luffatwee (German Air Force)
* Posters "stuck up all over the place: mothers send them out of the city...give your kids a chance of greater safety and health" (53) persuaded a many mothers to send their kids away from England to Ireland, and many communities began setting up lists of evacuees
* Amazingly, many of these posters were torn down by kids since they wanted to witness this "exciting" war
* Still there was racism towards Protestants, as Jamie describes his neighbours house after Bren and Pat were sent to Ireland, as though "you'd think Bren and Pat had die and gone to hell or had married Protestants" (57)
* Finally Jamie's parents decide to send him to Canada after the incident of Dublin being bombed by a Junker 88, since Canada is thousands of miles away and is a lot safer
Chapter 6
I. The parents fear no problems of a U-boat attack on the Benares since "the ship will be in a convoy with a destroyer escort. They'll have no problem with U-boats. If they try anything, they royal navy ill depth-charge them all to hell" (63)
II. More people were being frightened by the second air-raid, the consecutive day after the first air-raid
III. After the second air-raid Jamie's house was on fire, but his neighbours and the Bleekers help and therefore the house is not completely destroyed
Chapter 8
I. Miss Fisher is put in charge of Jamie, Tom, and a few other kids aboard the ship
II. Jamie hates him parents for sending him away against his will
III. "She was wearing a brown wool coat, and slacks-like one of those land girls, so called because they helped the war effort by planting potatoes and cleaning out pigsties" (80)
IV. Jamie is out aboard the city of Benares along with the Bleeker kids
V. "The Benares was no ordinary ship, I could see it was a posh liner meant for the rich" (80)
VI. Jamie and Bleeker are in Cabin 11, the starboard (right side) of the ship is for guys while the port side (left side) is for girls
VII. On the Benares you had to "keep a life jacket on all the time, it's the rule. You take them off only to eat and sleep, but even then they must be close to you...when you got to the bed at night, you must keep your day clother on " (82)
VIII. "Main deck for cabins; upper deck is for dinning; promenade deck is for emergencies; and the boat deck in on top" (83)
IX. Most of the crew are made of Indian there were many stereotypes
X. " [Jamie] knew nothing about Indians from India except they turned up in movies sometimes, mysterious, magical, sleeping on bed of nails, sitting cross-legged on carpets and playing funny looking pipes to charm snakes out of bowls or climbing ropes and disappearing into the sky" (85). This suggests that the media very much influenced the people knowledge about the world around them
XI. The City of Benares didn't start sailing immediately because of the sea mines put by the Luftwaffe, and the people were scared to sail tomorrow because it was Friday the 13th
XII. "Butter, eggs, cheese, jam, and sugar even sweets- candies"(91) were rationed amongst the people in Liverpool
XIII. Many arguments were settled through use of force, as Jamie and Tom argue about the possession of the top bunker, Jamie suggests a fight to settle it, then Tom suggest an arm wrestle, however Bleeker won and respected Jamie for being a "man"
Chapter 10
I. Many were astonished by the amount of food, eligibility to take showers when ever you wanted; not once a week like in Liverpool; and electrical lightning in their cabinets as Jamie describes it as "The Buckingham Palace"
II. Many kids never knew what chicken was, like Jamie on his 3rd serving of dinner on his 1st day
III. Some kids didn't eat organs or bananas in a year since the rationing
IV. 1st serving of dinner: soap & bread with butter
V. 2nd serving of dinner: white fish
VI. 3rd serving of dinner: chicken with vegetables
VII. 4th serving of dinner: fruits
VIII. 5th serving of dinner: desserts
IX. Breakfast: corn flakes; as much milk as you liked; real egg, and as much bacon as you want
X. Many kids had to take medical exams aboard the ship, like Jamie, Tom and Elsie before they would be accepted into Canada on their 2nd day of boarding, the doctor checked for lice, pest, heart beat, teeth, etc (106)
XI. Boat drills were performed occasionally in preparation of any sudden U-boat attacks
XII. The Benares finally sailed on Friday 13th, 1940 at 6 o'clock
Chapter 11
I. By Saturday, when people became sea sick especially the evacuees
II. On page 115, "it seemed to me at one time that Bleeker shook me, trying to wake me, yelling something about a submarine", maybe it was a U-boat, Tom must have seen it, however it wasn't detect by any ship, and when the destroyer closed in it submerged, this foreshadows the coming of death and pain
III. Bleeker tells Jamie in the showers that a U-boat was sitting "on the surface like a fly...fat, far away on the horizon" (117)
IV. When Bleeker told an officer, the U-boat submerged meaning that its following the convoy
V. Jamie always stays on the "safe-side" not eating mushrooms in the dinner serving never knowing if its poisoned, doesn't skip Sunday mass because he would "spend the rest of eternity in the all-consuming flames" (119); it was a moral sin, he continued wearing his day clothes to sleep even after crossing the Atlantic U-boat Danger Zone
VI. "The Benares led the others (ships in the convoy) but slowly...only half it's speed (7 knots) so that the other ships could keep up"(123)
VII. Jamie's Irish
Chapter 12
I. However, when the convoy crosses the Atlantic U-boat danger zone, precautions are taken much lightly, such as being able to not sleep in your day clothes
II. Also after the RAF shot down 180 German planes it was deemed that the war was to end in another six months
Chapter 13
I. Jamie's dad is from west Ireland, Mayo, and his mom is from east Ireland, Kidare (137)
II. Many foreigners in the country with heavy accents were treated as German spies (139)
III. At this point Jamie's is missing his life in Liverpool, and wondering how it life back home, and how life in Canada would be like
IV. "My thoughts ran in circles, from my mom and dad, to Bleeker, to Bren, and Goride, and Charlie, to Bleeker to my burned room, to gangster movies, and back to Bleeker again" (135)
Chapter 14
I. Tuesday, September 17th, his fifth day at sea
II. "The steward pushed my chair into the table, the way they always did with everyone, like we ere royalty or something instead of a bunch of snotty-noisy kids" (143)
III. At the beginning, every kid was taking this opportunity was as a vacation but by the fifth day everyone was starting to miss their parents
IV. Bleeker became friendlier to Jamie by calling him by his first name. "Boys never used first names unless they were friends. It was an unwritten law" (144)
V. By the fifth day, 2nd day since crossing the U-boat boundary, the Royal Navy Escort left the Benares and the rest of the convoy (146), so this foreshadows that maybe the U-Boat Tome Bleeker spotted might attack the convoy
VI. They are 600 miles from Liverpool and 300 miles from the U-boat danger zone
VII. By 10 o'clock that Tuesday a torpedo hit the Benares; it was a direct hit.
Chapter 15/16
I. As the ship was struck, the crew and passengers weren't ready, most wearing their night clothes; because they thought there won't be anymore U-boats and therefore didn't have lifejackets nearby and their day clothes on
II. Bleeker helped Jamie though the corridors and out onto the main deck; when he was half conscious; that showed a sign of respect
III. The explosion occurred at 10 o'clock
IV. Jamie reaches the playhouse were his group agreed to meet in case of an emergency at ten past ten, with their escort
V. Back then riding horses at full speed astonished people just like NASCAR today; this event is call the Grand National
VI. Some lifeboats were drowned as they were being lowered into the sea due to furious winds; while others had people thrown into the sea; when the lifeboats were being lowered from the main deck into the sea on a sinking ship
VII. When the Benares sink the U-boat attacks another ship, an oil tanker, distress signals are released and the convoy is ordered to break up and sent at full speed
VIII. Bleeker is missing from Jamie's lifeboat; as Elsie was thrown off the boast by a wave; Tom jumped into the water and grabbed her; he gave her to Jamie on the boat; as he was climbing he was thrown off by a huge wave; unable to find him the captain of the lifeboat orders the remaining lifeboats to row
Chapter 17
I. Only hope is what keeps the survivors on the lifeboat alive; the hope for a rescue ship to come in time to save them
II. Many people from the lifeboats died because of the freezing water, rain, hail, or dehydration
III. It has been 3 days in the ocean and yet the rescue ship did not come (175)
IV. On Friday, Jamie awoke half unconscious to find himself aboard a rescue ship, he couldn't move his body, not even a muscle, feel his body or talk. So this tells us above how much food might've been aboard the lifeboat, and the condition that Jamie had to face for three days
Chapter 18
I. Bleeker is in Critical Condition while Elsie is recovering (178)
II. Jamie gets up and finds himself in a hospital ward with his mom and dad and other survivors; Glasgow General, Scotland
III. "My face was whiter than a plate of tripe, but the worst thing was the eyes and lips: eyes had the yellow brown colour of dog turds and lips swollen and scaly with bits of skin and dried blood. God! I looked like I had crawled out a shit house!" (180)
IV. "Bleeker, white, thin like a twig" (181)
V. Even after 3 days in the hospital Tom "is asleep so pale he looked like a corpse" (185)
VI. "It's a miracle how he managed to hang on to the bottom of a capsized boat" (186) is how Bleeker survived in the ocean
VII. The rescue ship was the HMS Hurricane
Chapter 19
I. After the incident in the ocean, Tom and Jamie strengthen their friendship, and become really close friends, like Jamie calling him "Tom" instead of "Bleeker", and playing in the playground with him
II. Also Jamie's relationship with his family strengths, they tell him they would never send him away on his own, if they have to move they will take the chances as a family
III. When Jamie and Bleeker get home the same night the bomber come, Charlie tells him the Luftawee keep on air raiding Liverpool but is becoming more accurate aiming for the docks and ship yards
IV. Jamie and Bleeker are treated as heroes when they arrive and are interview by the Liverpool Echo
