Climate Change Robs Family Of Life...
ChatterBank0 min ago
The voyagers were coming to help rebuild a nation that had been deeply scarred by the war.
There's now a 'Windrush Day', what will you be doing to celebrate it?
fripfrip,
During the war the Irish navvies had to keep a close watch on time passing as they built airfields among other things.
After a certain time in the UK they'd become eligible for conscription. They needed to go back to Ireland for a while and then return to continue their lucrative work.
Many of the volunteers who came from the West Indies went directly into the services. They were there for the duration of the war. And after it they struggled more than most to secure a place in society.
Naomi, Let me tell you the story of my dad. Once his time was finished in the RAF, he was given a passage back home. Once arriving in Southampton to board the boat, he was met by the Ship's steward. The steward said to my dad "Why do you want to go back home? You're mad, you can have a good life here"
My Dad said it was an accumulation of things, the weather, Scotland where he was based & he was homesick.
So the steward then said that the boat was not ready to sail yet, it will be at least another hour. He told my dad to go and get something to eat and come back.
My dad return well within the hour, only to find the boat had sailed and was now a dot on the horizon!!!!
So that's the reason he did not return home at the time, no money as his passage was paid for, so he stayed and the rest is history.
Dad was not alone as he had another person with him, Larry. They both decided to travel to London as there was not much in Southampton. They managed to get one room which they both shared and also managed to find work. But it was difficult encountering racism etc. They had no other family here and up to the end, dad and Larry remained good friends.
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