Empire Windrush

The Empire Windrush originally a cruise ship owned by the Germans, was later converted in to a German troopship.

The ship was captured during the war by the British as a war prize, and used as a British troopship.

In 1948 Empire Windrush set sail from the Caribbean to Tilbury, England, carrying service men and women from the West Indies, recruited to serve in the British Armed Forces.

Many of the other passengers on board wanted to start a new life in England, and were intrigued by stories of the 'mother land'. A name affectionately use by West Indian service men and women to describe England.

Picture right: June 22 1948: The ex troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Photo by Keystone/Getty Images

The exhibition From War to Windrush exhibition at the Imperial War museum marks the sixtieth anniversary of the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush in Britain in 1948.

The image of the passengers from Empire Windrush disembarking on the ship's gangplank, is a landmark event in Britain's history.

After the Second World War England suffered labour shortages and Caribbean men and women were recruited to fill these posts. The passengers on board Windrush settled mainly in Brixton and Notting Hill, and found employment roles within Local Authorities, The National Health Service and London Transport.

Although there was plenty of work, there was a shortage of accommodation, which resulted in conflicts with the West Indian's and the British natives. Notting Hill had become home to the people of Trinidad and Barbados and as a positive response to the clashes, the Notting Hill carnival was born.

In March 1954 Empire Windrush sank in the Mediterranean sea after a fire in its engine room.

The Passengers

From the Empire Windrush there were many influential people that made their mark in British history. Here are a few of Southwark's

• Sam King MBE
  First black Mayor of Southwark
• Una Marson
  First black female programme maker for the BBC, playwright, poet, campaigner for equality
• Dr Harold Moody
  A Peckham-based doctor, who became an ambassador for Britain's black community and a founding member of the League of Coloured Peoples

Contact us

Arts and heritage team
Tel: 020 7525 2000
artsadmin@southwark.gov.uk
Chatelaine House
186 Walworth Road
London
SE17 1JJ