Research: Windrush

The Windrush (research)

In 1948 the S.S. Empire Windrush docked at the Tilbury Dock in London.
It was formally a German cruise ship and it officially carried, 492 settlers (many were ex-service and had served England in the War).
There was a post-war drive to recruit labour from the common wealth to cover the employment shortages in state-run services like the NHS and London Transport. *1 Very few of the people who came to England on the Windrush actually intended to stay for more then a few years.

Jamaica was still recovering from the Atlantic Hurricane season in 1944 when they were invited to fill the gaps in Britain's job services after the devastation of WW2. *3

Map of the British Empire in the 20's *2

One of the people on the Windrush was Sam King (a future mayor of Southwark), he'd served in England with the RAF. His ticket cost upwards of £600 in today's money. King recalls the apprehension on board as the ship drew towards England on whether authorities would turn them away. He had 2 ex-RAF wireless operators on board with him and while they played dominos they'd eavesdrop on incoming signals. They had heard on the BBC station that "Arthur Creech Jones, Colonial Secretary in the Labour government of the time, had pointed out that: ‘These people have British passports and they must be allowed to land.’ He added that they would not last one winter in England anyway, so there was nothing to worry about."*3

The English papers had a big interest in the voyage they called "the sons of empire". However the Colonial Office, the Home Office and the Ministry of Labour were trying to avoid responsibility for the people arriving. 

News paper clipping from 1948 *6

For the passengers of the Empire Windrush and the thousands of people who followed after it the "British Nationality Act 1948" was really important for them. This act meant the passengers from the Windrush and others living in Commonwealth countries, had British Citizenship and full rights of entry and settlement in England. *3

Contents of the British Nationality Act 1948 *5

I did this research as it provided overall context for my commission, it allowed me to come to interviews with a more educated and extensive background knowledge on the topic. 

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*1- "Arrival of S.S. Windrush" www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/arrival-ss-empire-windrush
*2- "Map of the British Empire in the 1920's" general-history.com/the-british-empire-in-1920/
*3- "Arrival of SS Empire Windrush" www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/arrival-ss-empire-windrush
*4- "Windrush Generation: 'They thought we should be planting bananas'" www.telegraph.co.uk/goodlife/11683233/Windrush-Generation-They-thought-we-should-be-planting-bananas.html
*5- "British Nationality Act 1948" www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1948/56/pdfs/ukpga_19480056_en.pdf
*6- Newspaper www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000378/19480622/085/0005?browse=False