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1869 Emigration of Admiralty Dockyard Workers (view source)
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This advancement in ship design meant many dockyard workers' skills were no longer required. On top of this, both Deptford and Woolwich Docks were declining in importance to Chatham and Plymouth as they were filling up with silt from the river and, had little room to expand to provide room to build bigger ships. | This advancement in ship design meant many dockyard workers' skills were no longer required. On top of this, both Deptford and Woolwich Docks were declining in importance to Chatham and Plymouth as they were filling up with silt from the river and, had little room to expand to provide room to build bigger ships. | ||
Consequently, many dockyard workers were left without work. With mass unemployment, only the odd charity handout and little or no prospect of another job in Britain; many poverty stricken ex-dockyard workers jumped at the chance in 1869 to emigrate to Canada. They were informed that in Canada, "there was an abundance of work of every description." ( Hampshire Telegraph 21st April 1869). | Consequently, many dockyard workers were left without work. With mass unemployment, only the odd charity handout and little or no prospect of another job in Britain; many poverty stricken ex-dockyard workers jumped at the chance in 1869 - 1870 to emigrate to Canada. They were informed that in Canada, "there was an abundance of work of every description." ( Hampshire Telegraph 21st April 1869). | ||
Those entitled to free passage were: artisans ( mainly mechanics), labourers and hired men who had worked at the docks for at least a year and had been discharged from the docks for a maximum of 12 months. Another stipulation was that all married men had to take their wives and children. | Those entitled to free passage were: artisans (mainly mechanics), labourers and hired men who had worked at the docks for at least a year and had been discharged from the docks for a maximum of 12 months. Another stipulation was that all married men had to take their wives and children. | ||
Approximately 2,000 dockyard workers and their families left for Canada between 1869 and 1870 in search of a better life - 1,000 from Portsmouth alone (see- http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/yourcouncil/6408.html). They came from docks throughout Britain: Chatham, Deptford, Devonport, Pembroke, Portsmouth and Woolwich and were spread across five sailings aboard British Troop ships : 1 on HMS Serapis, 1 on HMS Simoon, 1 on HMS Tamar and 2 on HMS Crocodile. | Approximately 2,000 dockyard workers and their families left for Canada between 1869 and 1870 in search of a better life - 1,000 from Portsmouth alone (see- http://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/yourcouncil/6408.html). They came from docks throughout Britain: Chatham, Deptford, Devonport, Pembroke, Portsmouth and Woolwich and were spread across five sailings aboard British Troop ships : 1 on HMS Serapis, 1 on HMS Simoon, 1 on HMS Tamar and 2 on HMS Crocodile. | ||