The Empire Windrush was a ship and an important part of the history of multi-cultural Britain. In 1948, the Empire Windrush sailed from Jamaica carrying 500 passengers wishing to start a new life in Britain, the first large group of West Indian immigrants to Britain after the Second World War. The ship arrived at Tilbury on June 22 1948. At that time, there were no immigration restrictions from citizens of one part of the British Empire moving to another part. The arrival of the boat immediately promoted complaints from MPs, but legislation was not passed until 1962.

History of the ship

The ship was built by Blohm & Voss in Hamburg, Germany and launched on 4 December 1930. She was delivered to Hamburg-Sudamerikanische Dampfs in 1931 and named the Monte Rosa.

In 1942 and 1943 it was used as for troop transport. In 1945 it became a hospital ship and in 1946 it was owned by the Ministry of Transport. On January 21 1947 it was renamed Empire Windrush.

After a boiler room fire in 1949, she put in to Gibraltar for repairs. In May 1954, HMS Saintes of the Royal Navy came to her assistance after an engine room fire while in the Mediterranean, 32 miles northwest of Cape Caxine . Saintes attempted to tow the ship to Gibraltar but Empire Windrush sank during the journey on the 30 March.

Statistics

• Tonnage: 13,882 gross, 7,788 net, 8,530 dead weight.
• Dimensions: 500.3 × 65.7 × 37.8 feet.

See also

• British Afro-Caribbean community

External links

• Empire Windrush from BBC history
• Empire Windrush from BBC Arts
• Passenger List from the Public Record Office
• Reflections (Film for Windrush Productions , Dir: Pogus Caesar)