Today (22/06/2024) is Windrush Day. 76 years ago, in 1948, the HMT Empire Windrush arrived at Tilbury Docks, Essex. The vessel was carrying over 800 migrants from the Caribbean and its arrival marked the beginning of a significant wave of Caribbean immigration to Britain. Established in 2018, Windrush Day celebrates the invaluable contributions made by Caribbean immigrants who settled in the UK between 1948 and 1973. They have since become known as the “Windrush Generation”.
Originally bound for the UK from Australia, HMT Empire Windrush was a naval ship. Its purpose was to bring British servicemen stationed around the world back home. The ship was low on passengers when it docked in Kingston, Jamaica, to pick up servicemen who were on leave. Consequently, the ship agreed to offer cheap transport for anyone wanting to travel to Britain.
There were broader factors at play here. Following the Second World War, Britain faced a major labour shortage. Having failed to attract enough immigrants from mainland Europe, the government decided to recruit people from across the empire and the Commonwealth. Attracted by the prospect of a better quality of life, the numerous job opportunities, and just sheer curiosity, hundreds of Afro-Caribbeans boarded the Windrush destined for the UK. Many onboard were hoping to take full advantage of the British Nationality Act of 1948. This legislation—which was still making its way through parliament—would grant citizenship as well as the right of entry and settlement to any resident of the UK and her colonies.
Although it was not the first ship to bring people from the West Indies to Britain, the Windrush received widespread media attention, helping to cement its iconic status as a symbol of modern, multicultural Britain. As highlighted by this magazine clipping from The Sphere, published in July 1948, migrants from the West Indies were also motivated to come to the UK by the often-extreme unemployment that they faced in their home countries.[1] For example, in 1948 Jamaica was experiencing unemployment levels of around 25%.[2] It is also worth noting that, as evidenced by the article from The Sphere, most of the widely read newspapers and magazines of the time estimated that the number of migrants was in the region of 400–500. Yet analysis of the ship’s records, kept in The National Archives (UK), reveals that 802 passengers gave their last place of residence as lying within the Caribbean.[3]
British Online Archives, The Sphere, 1900–1964, “Home News in Pictures, 3 July 1948,” image 22.
After arriving in the UK, migrants from the West Indies quickly took up jobs that were essential to the reconstruction of post-war Britain, such as in the production of coal, food, iron, and steel. Many likewise forged careers in the service sector, securing jobs in public transport and in the recently founded NHS.
Despite being official British subjects, many migrants from the West Indies faced intense discrimination, racism, and the arduous task of assimilation. They displayed remarkable resilience, however, and played pivotal roles in the reconstruction and shaping of post-war Britain. As evidenced by the so-called “Windrush Scandal” that emerged in 2018, the West Indian community continues to face immense challenges in Britain.
The “Windrush Scandal” emerged as a result of attempts by the British government to reduce illegal immigration by introducing stricter regulations. Crucially, these required individuals to provide documentary evidence of their British citizenship. Many of the “Windrush Generation” had been living and working in the UK for decades. Yet they were unable to provide the necessary paperwork to prove their right to remain in the country.
As a result, some were wrongfully detained, denied access to healthcare, lost their jobs, and faced the threat of deportation. Many of them had never applied for, or possessed, official documentation regarding their citizenship because they arrived in the UK as British subjects, with the implicit understanding that they had the right to live and work there indefinitely.
In 2013, the social commentator and former Labour councillor, Patrick Vernon, began a petition for Windrush Day to be established. He believed that this date should be celebrated as a means of countering the neglect and mistreatment of the “Windrush Generation” by British governments. Facing numerous accusations of insensitivity and malpractice for failing to protect the rights of British citizens, the government officially recognised Windrush Day. It also awarded Vernon a £500,000 grant. This helps to fund a wide variety of events that occur in conjunction with Windrush Day, such as talks, exhibitions, festivals, and performances.
During his campaign Vernon highlighted how
many aspects of British society today would be unrecognisable without the contributions that immigration and integration have made: from the NHS to the monarchy, our language, literature, enterprise, public life, fashion, music, politics, science, culture, food and even humour.[4]
Windrush Day provides an opportunity to honour and appreciate the immeasurable contributions made by the “Windrush Generation” to British society and culture. It serves as a reminder of the struggles that they have faced, their determination to overcome these, and the lasting impact that they have had upon Britain. Windrush Day should likewise encourage dialogue about, and appreciation of, the diverse social tapestry of the UK. This can only ensure that the remarkable legacy of the “Windrush Generation” endures.
References
[1] British Online Archives, The Sphere, 1900–1964, “Home News in Pictures, 3 July 1948,” available at https://microform.digital/boa/documents/37493/3rd-july-1948#?xywh=-2362%2C0%2C7445%2C4028&cv=21, image 22.
[2] The National Archives (UK), "Unemployment Statistics: British Colonies," Commonwealth Migration Since 1945, available at https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/commonwealth-migration-since-1945/unemployment-statistics-british-colonies/.
[3] "Windrush: Who exactly was on board?," BBC News, available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43808007.
[4] "Windrush Shaped Britain. After 70 Years, It Must Be Recognised with a National Holiday," The Guardian, available at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/may/09/windrush-shaped-britain-70-years-immigration-national-holiday.