Allies: The nations – Canada, Britain, France, the Soviet Union and the United States – that joined together in the war against Germany and its partners – Italy and Japan (known as the Axis powers). Later, the Axis was joined by Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Battle of the Atlantic: The military campaign in the Atlantic ocean during World War II, which ran from 1939 to the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. 

Black Pit:  Allied term applied to the vast undefended area of the Atlantic ocean beyond the reach of aircraft support during the Battle of the Atlantic.

Bleichrodt, Heinrich: Captain "Ajax" of German submarine U-48 during the fall operations of 1940 in the Atlantic ocean. 

Blitzkrieg: German term for “lightning war”, used to describe the speed, efficiency and intensity of Germany’s military attack against its opponents.

Cause(s)/causation: Events and actions produce later actions, results or effects.  Immediate causal factors are directly linked to (that is, causing) the event occuring. They typically take place just prior to the event in question. Underlying factors represent broader underlying elements, practice, or belief that are not directly tied to a single event but contribute to it. 

Children's Overseas Reception Board (CORB): British initiative established in 1940 responsible for the organization and evacuation of British children to Allied countries (including Canada and the United States) during World War II. CORB program was very popular but the attack of SS City of Benares led to a halt. 

Convoy (naval): Group of vessels traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support (escort). During World War II, Allied convoys were given codes based on their origin and destination (eg., OB-213 for the Liverpool convoy hit by U-48 on 17 September 1940).

HMS Anthony: Royal navy ship (class destroyer) took part in the Dunkirk evacuation where the ship was damaged. The vessel was later assigned to the Home Fleet and then responsible for escorting convoys and conducting anti-submarine patrols during World War II. The ship rescued the survivors of lifeboat #12. 

HMS Hurricane: Royal navy ship (class destroyer) assigned to the Home Fleet and then responsible for escorting convoys and conducting anti-submarine patrols during World War II. The ship was the first vessel to rescue survivors of SS City of Benares. 

Nazi: The National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP), established in 1919. In 1933 the Nazi Party achieved political control of Germany through democratic election.

Nicoll, Landles: Master of the SS City of Benares. Died at sea following the attack of U-48 on 17 September 1940. 

Rockall islet: Uninhabitable granite islet now in the exclusive economic zone of the United Kingdom situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. It is claimed by the United Kingdom as its territory. 

SS City of Benares: Steam ship built in the 1930s and officially lauched on launched on 5 August 1935. The ship was 486 ft 1 in (148.16 m) long, with a beam of 62 feet 7 inches (19.08 m) and draught of 30 feet 8 inches (9.35 m). The ship was powered by three steam turbines with a speed of approximatively 15 knots. 

Third Reich: The Nazi* designation of Germany and its regime from 1933 to 1945. Historically, the First Reich was the medieval Holy Roman Empire, which lasted until 1806.The Second Reich referred to the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.

Torpedo: Underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface by vessels such as submarines with an explosive warhead. 

U-boat: English name for German submarine vessels (Unterseeboot) developped and used in both world wars by the German navy. U-boats were given specific numbers for identification, such as U-48 with sank the SS City of Benares.