A 1930s photograph of the ex-troop ship SS Ormonde. This was one of the first of the lesser-known ships that carried post-war migrants. It docked in Liverpool on 31 March 1947 for over a year before the Empire Windrush. By courtesy of Nick Messenger www.pandosnco.co.uk.
The passenger list for the ship reveals that there were 241 onboard, including 11 stowaways and six distressed seamen. It shows a diverse range of skills and professions. Due to an unofficial colour bar in Britain, many could only find employment with low wages and poor conditions. Find out more about this and other ships in this National Archives blog.
- Find out more about the history of SS Ormonde from the Master Mainer’s website here.
- Can you find the document reference for this ship’s passenger list in The National Archives online catalogue?