Telegram from the Acting Governor of Jamaica to the Secretary of State for the Colonies informing him of troop deck passengers booked on the Empire Windrush, 11 May 1948. Catalogue ref: HO 213/714
- Find out what the term ‘troop deck passenger’ means.
- Does this telegram provide different information from the telegram dated 6 June 1948 in this collection? (CO 876/88)
- What steps had the Jamaican Government taken to discourage travel to Britain?
- What are the advantages/disadvantages of telegrams as historical sources?
Transcript
Note: Savingram: This means correspondence that uses the informal and abbreviated language of a telegram, but sent by mail, which is less expensive.
INWARD TELEGRAM
Copy TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
FROM JAMAICA (Acting Governor)
- 11th May 1948.
- 11th May 1948 23.10hrs
IMPORTANT
Not numbered
Your telegram no. 499 of 1947
Jamaican Workers for the United Kingdom
I regret to inform you that more than 350 troop-deck passengers by EMPIRE WINDRUSH- your telegram MAST 272 refers- have been booked by men who hope to find employment in the United Kingdom, and that it is likely that this number will be increased by another 100 before the vessel leaves. Most of them have no particular skill and few will have more than a few pounds on their arrival.
- Public announcements on the difficulty of obtaining work have not discouraged these bookings and only 40 persons have, so far, provided information such as was sent with my savingram No. 801 of 3rd December, 1947. This is being sent by airmail and every effort is being made to secure similar information in respect of the remainder in order that it may reach you as long as possible before the vessel arrives in the United Kingdom.