reader: David Monteith
Jock, a Jamaican Fighter Pilot in the RAF during the Battle of Britain, tells the story of the Windrush from the Armed Forces point of view.
Many troops were being repatriated from the Far East as they were de-mobbed in the aftermath of World War 2. As a troop ship, The Windrush had sailed from Japan to Australia, and called in at Kingston. Where they advertised the extra berths for sale.
Jock was one of many gaining a bounty for re-signing on – as the British Armed Forces were rapidly becoming depleted. As an RAF Officer- he got free Cabin Class passage to Tilbury.