Letter from the Area Officer in Southampton East to the Secretary of the National Assistance Board, concerning arrivals on the S.S. Ascania, 15 April 1958. Catalogue ref: AST 7/1125
Contains original language used at the time, which is not appropriate today.
- How many British Caribbean arrivals were expected on 15 April 1958?
- What does this document reveal about the role of the British Caribbean Welfare Service?
Transcript
NATIONAL ASSSITANCE BOARD
From: The Area Officer To: The Secretary
Southampton East Headquarters, London
…
Distressed British Subjects arriving from Abroad
Further from the Regional Controller’s instructions dated 7thJanuary, 1958, that advance notice of repatriates would be notified to this office by Headquarters, herewith report on another type of case/cases which arises and takes up much staff time, often at most inconvenient times.
On Monday last I was telephoned by Mr. Johnson of the British Caribbean Welfare Service, 2 Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, S.W.1., that 1200 coloured people were arriving at Southampton on the s.s. “Ascania” on the evening of Tuesday 15th April 1958.
He requested or wondered if a Board’s officer/officers could be in attendance as it nearly always happens that inspite of all the efforts the Caribbean Service makes by way of advice, propaganda etc. that some of these people land and are destitute.
I pointed out to Mr. Johnson that neither he nor I knew what the extent of the problem if any, at all would be and it was difficult to arrange staff out of normal duty hours.
I learned locally that the ship was due in at 6.30 p.m., would begin disembarking at approximately 7 p.m. and that two boat trains for London and one for Birmingham were laid on to leave between 9 and 10.30 p.m.
In view of the uncertainty, I arranged for a C.O. to come with me to the Dock at 7.30 p.m. armed with forms, sub-imprest [account to pay small costs] and travel warrants.
Everything was going smoothly and having contacted Mr. Johnson at 8.45 p.m. he said there was only one person he knew of at that time who was destitute but anxious to get to Manchester. I arranged with Johnson to stay until 9.45p.m. when it was hoped this one person would be found and the disembarking and entraining completed.
This of course did not happen and finally we had to deal with 14 destitute men and women, getting them away on the last boat train at 10.50 p.m.
Applications were taken and travel warrants issued for 7 to go to London, 3 to Manchester, 2 to Slough, one to Derby and one to Leeds.
This little venture entailed a C.O. and myself being on duty from 7 p.m. until arriving home at 11.20 p.m.
The British Caribbean Welfare service officers meet these ships and advise immigrants, but do not apparently have any funds available to deal with any emergency