SS Garka (1907): A British Colonial Voyage from Cape Town to England – A Rare Passage Contract

📌 Explore a 1907 third-class passage contract for F. R. Peverall aboard the Union-Castle Line’s SS Garka from Cape Town to England. This historical document provides insight into British colonial migration, ticket pricing, and travel conditions. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and maritime enthusiasts! 🚢

Third Class Counterpart Passage Ticket Issued to F. R. Peverall by the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company on 16 September 1907 for Third Class passage on the SS Garka. Cost of the Ticket was £10:10:0. GGA Image ID # 1f9dd65816

Counterpart Passage Contract Contents

The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, LIMITED.

DONALD CURRIE. & CO., Managers, LONDON.

THIRD CLASS. COUNTERPART.

This part to be torn off by the Steward and returned to the Passenger as proof of the delivery of his passage Ticket. The Passenger must keep this part in his possession until the voyage is completed, and must produce it to the Officers of the Company when required.

Ticket No. C.T. x 4732

Issued at CAPE TOWN

Index Number 94

Mr. F. R. Peverall

Passenger to ENGLAND

Per RMS Garka

Voyage 50?

Sailing 16/9/1907

Passage Money in full £ 10:10:--

Terms, Conditions, and Regulations under which Passengers and their Luggage are conveyed. SS Garka Counterpart Passage Contract, 16 September 1907. GGA Image ID # 1f9e8b7f95

1.  The whole of the Passage-money must be paid prior to embarkation, one half being due on engaging accommodation. The issue of this ticket does not, in itself, entitle the holder to a passage until the full fare agreed upon has been paid.

Passengers failing to embark after having engaged a passage, forfeit the Passage-money deposited, and must forthwith pay any balance then unpaid.

2.  No berth or cabin is to be occupied by a Passenger unless previously engaged at the Company’s offices or agencies, or allotted by the Purser on board.

The Company reserve to themselves the right when deemed necessary in their judgment of transferring Passengers from one cabin to another, and of filling any vacant accommodation in a cabin except in cases where an additional sum has been paid by the Passenger for the exclusive use of such accommodation by arrangement with the Company.

3.  The ordinary services of the Surgeon (when one is carried) and of the Stewards and Stewardesses (when carried) are included in the Passage-money, together with a free table, and also the use of bedding, linen, and the usual furnishings. Passengers who by reason of illness or through any other cause require special attendance or accommodation will be charged extra therefor.                                       
4.  Wines, Spirits, Malt liquors, and Mineral Waters, etc., are not included in the Passage-money and are supplied on board at moderate charges. Passengers are prohibited from taking on board Wines, Spirits, Malt Liquors, etc., for use during the voyage.
5.  The Regulations established on board of the Steamer for general good order, comfort, and safety, are obligatory on all Passengers.

6.  Passengers who may appear to the Officers or Agents of the Company to be by reason of sickness or infirmity unable to proceed, or to be for that or any other reason, likely to endanger the health or safety, or impair the reasonable comfort of other Passengers on board, or to involve the Owners, Master or Agent of the Ship in any liability for their maintenance or support, or otherwise, under or by virtue of any Imperial or Colonial or other law or regulation, may be landed at the port of embarkation or at any inter­mediate port.
   
   Passengers who by reason of any Imperial or Colonial or other law or regulation, are prohibited from landing at their port of destination, will be charged with the cost of their return journey in accordance with the Company’s tariff of fares, and will be conveyed back on the terms and conditions of passage herein specified, and may be required to proceed by any Steamer selected by the Company, and to pay for the cost of their maintenance on board the Company’s Steamers until the sailing of such steamer on her homeward voyage.
7.  The Company are under no liability for anything that happens to Passengers or their luggage or personal effects before they actually come on board the Company’s Steamers, or after leaving such Steamers. While Passengers and their luggage or effects are on board such Steamers, the Company’s liability is regulated by the conditions of this ticket, on the terms of which alone passages by the Company’s Steamers are granted.
8.  The Company will not be responsible for any alteration in the date or hour of sailing or arrival of the Steamer The Steamer may proceed by any route, and may tow and assist vessels in all situations, put back or into any port, and deviate from the direct and customary course for any purpose.
9. The Company reserves the right to require Passengers to complete the contract voyage by any other ship, whether of their own or of any other line, and to tranship for that purpose as and when required.

10.  Passengers desiring to break their journey at any intermediate port must have their Tickets endorsed accordingly, and, they are required to defray their expenses while on shore at such intermediate port. While waiting off shore by reason of any damage or delay to the Steamer carrying them, however caused, Passengers will have to bear their own expenses. While waiting at any port of call to embark on any other vessels Passengers will have to bear their own expenses, and the Company does not guarantee accommodation on the Vessel they desire to travel by unless previously arranged. All expenses of Quarantine shall also be borne by the Passenger.
11.  Adult third class Passengers paying full fare are allowed to carry under the name of luggage their own personal effects to the extent of twenty cubic feet each free of charge, and children and servants in proportion to the amount of Passage-money paid for them, as compared with the full rate. Any excess over the quantities allowed free in accordance with the preceding part of this clause, will only be taken by special agreement made between the Passenger and the Company prior to shipment, and will be charged at the rate of 1s 6d per cubic foot. All Passengers’ luggage or personal effects must be shipped at the port of departure, and the Company cannot guarantee shipment of any such luggage or effects other than light articles for use in the cabin, unless such luggage or effects are tendered for shipment alongside the Steamer at least 24 hours before the advertised time of sailing.
12.  Merchandise and articles not being Passengers’ personal effects must not be carried under the name of luggage, and if found on board will be charged for at double the current rates of freight. All specie, bullion, or other treasure carried by Passengers above the value of £50 must be shipped as treasure, and paid for at the current rates of freight.
    
    Small packages containing valuable articles may be deposited with the Purser on payment of a small charge on the declared value.

13.  Passengers are prohibited from taking on board any dangerous goods, or goods the carriage of which is prohibited by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, or any other statute, or any matches in their luggage.
14. The Company will not be responsible for loss of life or illness of, or injury to, or detention or delay of any Passenger however caused, even if caused by negligence or default of the Company’s servants or agents, or by unseaworthiness or unfitness of the Ship. The Company are prepared to effect the insurance of Passengers against certain risks at moderate rates of premium when requested in writing by them so to do. Rates and all further information will be given on application.
15. Under no circumstances will the Company be responsible for the loss (including theft or robbery) or detention of, or delay or damage to Passengers’ luggage or effects however caused, even if such loss, detention, or damage be caused by negligence or default of the Company’s servants or by unseawcrthiness or unfitness of the Ship, but the Company are prepared to effect the insurance of Passengers’ luggage at moderate rates of premium, when requested, in writing, by them so to do, either against sea risks only or against certain further risks. Rates and all further information will be given on application.
16. In the event of any luggage or effects, intended for conveyance with a passenger by any of the Company’s Steamers, being left behind at any port from any cause whatsoever, including the negligence of the Company’s servants, the Company will endeavour to forward such luggage or effects, if properly labelled or identified as the properly of such a passenger to its port of destination by the first convenient omoortunity, unless instructions^ writing to the contrary are received by the Company before the luggage or effects are sent forward. The Company shall be under no legal liability in respect of forwarding such luggage or effects, and its transit after it is put on board the Company’s Steamer is on the terms of the passenger ticket issued to the passenger with whom it was intended to travel.
17.  The Company does not accept responsibility for any mistake, or oversight, or negligence, or default, however arising, on the part of their Agents or Servants, or any other person in the performance of any service undertaken on behalf of Passengers, or intending Passengers, or their friends, nor for the due performance of such services, except in those cases in which, and subject to the conditions under which, a special payment is made to the Company for the particular service, and the Company in consideration for such payment and under such conditions, have expressly undertaken to perform the service,
18. This contract is to be interpreted according to English law.

Notice to Passengers of the SS Garka of the Union Castle Line, 16 September 1907. GGA Image ID # 1f9edd504e

NOTICE TO PASSENGERS.

Passengers are required to comply with the provisions of the Cape and Natar Immigration Restriction Acts, of the Aliens Act, 1905; and any other Acts or Regulations in force for the time being, either in the Colonies or the United Kingdom, and the Company cannot undertake that any Passenger will be allowed to land in the Colonies or the United Kingdom.

DONALD CURRIE & CO.,

Managers

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

In 2020, the relative value of £10 10s 0d from 1907 ranges from £1,136.00 to £10,520.00.

A simple Purchasing Power Calculator would say the relative value is £1,136.00. This answer is obtained by multiplying £10.50 by the percentage increase in the RPI from 1907 to 2020.

This may not be the best answer.

The best measure of the relative value over time depends on if you are interested in comparing the cost or value of a Commodity, Income or Wealth , or a Project. For more discussion on how to pick the best measure, consult the Tutorials.

If you want to compare the value of a £10 10s 0d Commodity in 1907 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is £1,136.00
• labour value of that commodity is £4,262.00
• income value of that commodity is £6,367.00
• economic share of that commodity is £10,520.00

If you want to compare the value of a £10 10s 0d Income or Wealth , in 1907 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is £1,136.00
• labour earnings of that income or wealth is £4,262.00
• relative income value of that income or wealth is £6,367.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is £10,520.00

If you want to compare the value of a £10 10s 0d Project in 1907 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is £1,179.00
• labour cost of that project is £4,262.00
• economic cost of that project is £10,520.00

Source: https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ukcompare/

🚢 SS Garka (1907): A Voyage from Cape Town to England

📜 Overview: A Third-Class Journey Across the Atlantic

This third-class passage contract, dated 16 September 1907, records the travel of F. R. Peverall aboard the SS Garka of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, departing from Cape Town, South Africa, to England. The document provides a detailed look into early 20th-century maritime travel, outlining ticket pricing, terms and conditions, passenger rights, and luggage policies.

📌 Why is this document important? This historical artifact sheds light on:

✔️ British and South African migration patterns in the early 1900s.

✔️ The economic accessibility of ocean travel for third-class passengers.

✔️ Shipping industry regulations governing passenger rights and responsibilities.

✔️ The role of Union-Castle Line in facilitating travel between South Africa and the UK.

🚢 The SS Garka, though lesser-known, played an integral role in maritime routes connecting the British Empire’s colonies.

🌍 Who Would Find This Document Valuable?

📖 Teachers & Students – Offers insight into early 20th-century migration, British colonial travel, and steamship logistics.

🧬 Genealogists – Provides passenger identity confirmation, departure details, and financial records for family history research.

📜 Historians – Demonstrates transatlantic migration trends, maritime laws, and the economic factors affecting travel.

🛳 Maritime Enthusiasts – Highlights a lesser-known Union-Castle steamship and its operational role.

📜 Key Details of the Passage Contract

📅 Date of Purchase: 16 September 1907

📅 Departure Date: 16 September 1907

🚢 Steamship Line: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co.

🛳 Steamship: SS Garka

🌍 Route: Cape Town → England

🎟 Ticket Type: Counterpart Passage Contract

💰 Cost of Ticket: £10 10s 0d (~£1,136 in 2020 GBP)

🛏 Voyage Class: Third Class (Steerage)

👤 Passenger: Mr. F. R. Peverall

📌 Did You Know? The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company was one of the primary links between Britain and its African colonies, providing both passenger and cargo services.

🛳 The Journey: British Migration from South Africa

By 1907, South Africa was a major hub for British expatriates, traders, and government officials. Many traveled between England and South Africa for work, family visits, or to relocate permanently.

✔️ Was F. R. Peverall a returning British expatriate?

✔️ Was he a colonial government official, a trader, or a skilled worker?

✔️ Was this part of a broader migration pattern?

Possible Reasons for Travel:

✔️ Colonial Service Transfers – Many British officials and traders relocated between South Africa and the UK.

✔️ Return Migration – Some Britons who settled in Cape Town later moved back to England.

✔️ Business & Trade – British merchants frequently traveled between Africa and England for business deals.

✔️ Health Reasons – Some passengers traveled for medical care, as England had better healthcare facilities.

📌 Did You Know? The Union-Castle Line was one of the few passenger services connecting Cape Town and England regularly, making it a vital transportation link for British expatriates.

🛳 The SS Garka: A Union-Castle Workhorse

✔️ Built in the early 1900s, the SS Garka served Union-Castle’s African routes, providing both passenger and cargo transport.

✔️ Designed primarily for third-class travel, catering to working-class passengers and traders.

✔️ Part of a fleet that connected British colonies, making it an essential link for British imperial expansion.

✔️ Operated between South Africa and England, ensuring colonial administrators, traders, and settlers had reliable passage.

📌 Did You Know? The Union-Castle Line continued to operate until the 1970s, when air travel eventually replaced steamship routes.

🛳 Life in Third Class on the SS Garka

⚓ What was it like for third-class passengers like F. R. Peverall?

✔️ Basic shared accommodations – Third-class travelers slept in large dormitories, often in bunk beds.

✔️ Simple food rations – Passengers received basic meals, including bread, tea, and preserved meats.

✔️ Limited privacy – Unlike first- and second-class travelers, steerage passengers shared all facilities.

✔️ Health inspections – Upon arrival in England, third-class passengers underwent medical checks before being allowed to enter the country.

📌 Did You Know? Many third-class passengers brought their own bedding, as the ship provided only the basics.

📜 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼 📜 The Original Passage Contract – A historical artifact documenting travel between South Africa and England.

🖼 🚢 The SS Garka – A Union-Castle steamship used primarily for third-class travel.

🖼 📄 Passenger Lists & Agent Records – Confirms ticket details, migration patterns, and financial transactions.

💰 Cost of Passage: Then vs. Now

💰 1907 Ticket Price: £10 10s 0d (~£40 in 1907 GBP)

💰 2020 Equivalent: £1,136 to £10,520 (depending on the economic comparison method)

📌 Comparison with Today:

✔️ A steerage ticket in 1907 cost roughly the same as an economy-class plane ticket today.

✔️ The pricing structure highlights the economic accessibility of ocean travel for the working class.

🔹 Conclusion: This ticket provides not just travel details but also economic and social context, showing who could afford to travel and under what conditions.

🧬 Genealogical & Historical Value of This Document

📜 For Genealogists:

✅ Confirms departure location, ship name, and final destination.

✅ Provides passenger identity (F. R. Peverall), allowing further family history research.

✅ May connect to other travel records, censuses, or colonial archives.

🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✅ Shows the role of steamships in British colonial migration.

✅ Provides a real-world example of early 20th-century travel logistics.

📖 For Historians:

✅ Demonstrates the financial structures of ocean travel (ticket costs, conditions, and regulations).

✅ Highlights migration patterns between Britain and its colonies.