Story They Don't Bother Telling You About The Windrush

My Mother went out to India to join my Father on her in '46. " the Windrush, more Wind than Rush ", she used to say !

I travelled on the Windrush to Singapore aged 7 with my mother and sister leaving Southampton in December 1948 to join my father at RAF Changi. Remember being taken to the bridge by a ships officer when he saw myself and another boy up to mischief on deck! lol. Also her eventual sinking in the Med in 1954.

That was fascinating and - as always - impeccably researched. I knew some of the story because my Dad was on a contemporary troopship (the 'Dilwara') at the same time whilst he was on National Service. In fact, he was very nearly posted to the "Empire Windrush" instead of the "Dilwara". Another contemporary British troopship from that era has a long and eventful story to tell - the "Empire Fowey" which began life as the German liner "Potsdam" in the early to mid 1930s. Captured by the British at Flensburg, she was refitted, renamed, and served as a troopship from the war's end until the 1960s. Incredibly, when her British service was done, instead of going for scrap she was sold to a Pakistani concern in Karachi, renamed "Safina-E-Hujjaj" and served for a further 20-odd years as a Pilgrim transport. She finally went to the breaker's yard in the mid 1980s, by which time she was at least 50 years old! If you were able to find out more about her to "fill the story out" she would, I am sure, make as equally fascinating a video as the "Empire Windrush" - very few of even the most heavily-built ships manage to reach a half-century of nearly constant service!

Thank you Chris, for another great story. As retired Merchant Navy officer I know what a lot of research has gone into this story....! Great!

What an amazing story she has. Thank you.

What a fascinating and storied history that the Empire Windrush lived, I was in St. Kitts-Nevis which I believe was a former colony of the Empire. Thank you for telling her story so eloquently and with gusto. I think her brief involvement in the Holocaust can be forgiven as this ship brought numerous civilians and military personnel safely home. Kudos to you, amigo!

“I bet there are bits of this story you were not aware of” … that is an understatement of epic proportions. Just wow! That was a superb piece of work .. fascinating & thought provoking.

Excellent video as always Chris, and you are correct, I knew very little about this ship.

Thanks Chris. Delightful as always. I never miss your videos and I am yet to be disappointed. 👍👍

A lucky ship whose luck finally ran out! Thank you for yet another interesting video, Chris, this one proves that there is far more to the story than "popular culture" gives credit to.

Such interesting history. Thank you for sharing!

Just found your channel Chris and can’t stop binge watching. Superb channel , thank you Chris 👍

Wow! so much i didn't know. Love this channel

Thank you for the informative and interesting video, Mr. Green. I seem to be developing a fondness for British history. I would appreciate if you continued to make content, as you present your stories very well. Always a joy to watch. Take care!

What an amazing story, thanks for sharing.

What an amazing story. I obviously know of her, but nothing else. Fascinating, thanks Chris, looking forward to many more.

An amazing and odd history for a ship. Well worth the listen. Thanks Chris. 👍

I did not know the story of this ship. thank you for telling it!

Another great video thanks

Such an interesting story and really well told, thanks and have a great weekend and stay well.