RMS Walmer Castle (1906): British Emigration to South Africa – A Historic Passage Contract

📌 Explore a 1906 steerage passage contract for Walter Bayley, traveling from Southampton to Natal, South Africa aboard Union-Castle’s RMS Walmer Castle. Learn about British colonial migration, ticket pricing, and steerage travel conditions. A must-read for historians, genealogists, and ocean travel enthusiasts! 🚢

Front Side, Steerage Passenger's Contract Ticket, The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., Ltd., for Walter Bayley, 27, Passage on the RMS Walmer Castle, Departing from Southampton on 17 November 1906 for the Port of Natal, South Africa. GGA Image ID # 154688223b

Passage Contract Summary

• Date of Purchase / Voyage: 17 November 1906
• Steamship Line: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., Ltd
• Steamship: RMS Walmer Castle
• Route: Southampton to Natal, South Africa
• Ticket Type: Passage Contract
• Voyage Class: Steerage
• Name on Contract: Walter Bayley
• Etnicity of Passenger(s): British or South African
• Contract Terms: In English -- Transcribed
• Cost of Ticket: £ 19 : 19s : 0d / £2,194.00 GBP in 2020

Passage Contract Description

This is the original Steerage Passenger's Steamship Ticket Contract for a 27 year old man from Southampton, England for passage to Natal, South Africa in 1906. It provides rich details of the requirements of the steamship company in terms of food, water and other items supplied.

The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., Ltd., Donald Currie & Co., Managers., Royal Mail Service Between England and South Africa, Calling Regularly at Madeira, Grand Canary, Tenerife, St. Helena, Delagoa Bay, Beira, Ascension, Madagascar, and Mauritius.

No. 9767

Steerage Passenger's Contract Ticket

1. A Contract Ticket in this Form must be given to every Person engaging a Passage as a Steerage Passenger in any ship proceeding from the British Isles to any port out of Europe, and not within the Mediterranean Sea, immediately upon payment or deposit by such Steerage—The Passenger Victualling of the e Scale whole for or the Voyage part of the voyage of must the Passage printed teMoneyd in the for body in of respect the Ticket. the passage engaged.
2. The Victualing Scale for the Voyage must be printed in the body of the Ticket.
3. All the blanks must be correctly filled in, and the Ticket must be printed in plain and legible characters and legibly signed with the Christian Names and Surname and Address in full of the party issuing the same.
4. The Day of the Month on which the Steerage Passengers are to embark must be inserted in Words and not in Figures.
5. When once issued this Ticket must not be withdrawn from the Passenger, nor any Alteration, Addition, or Erasure made in it.
6. A Contract Ticket shall not contain on the face thereof any condition, stipulation or exception not contained in this form.

Steamship Walmer Castle of 12,546 Tons Register, to take in Passengers at the Port of Southampton on the ___ , and at Southampton on the 17th day of November 1906 for South Africa.

• Names: Walter Bayley
• Ages: 27
• Equal to Statute Adults: 1

We engage that the Persons named in the margin hereof shall be provided with a STEERAGE Passage to, and shall be landed at, the Port of Natal in the Ship Walmer Castle, with not less than TEN Cubic Feet for Luggage for each Statute Adult, and shall be Victualled during the Voyage and the time of Detention at any place before its termination according to the subjoined scale, for the sum of £ 17:19:0 - including Government Dues before Embarkation, and Head Money (if any) at the place of landing, and every other charge except Freight for Excess of Luggage beyond the quantity above specified : and we hereby acknowledge to have received the sum of £ 5:0:0 in {part} - Payment.

Water and Provisions

The following quantities, at least, of Water and Provisions (to be issued daily) will be supplied by the Master of the Ship, as required by Law, viz.: to each Statute Adult, 3 quarts of Water daily, exclusive of what is necessary for cooking the Articles required by the Merchant Shipping Act 1894, to be issued in a cooked state; and a Weekly Allowance of Provisions according to the following Scale :—

• 3 1/2 pounds Bread or Biscuit, not inferior in Quality to Navy Biscuit.
• 2 pounds Wheaten Flour
• 1 pound Oatmeal
• 8 ounces Rice
• 1 pound Peas
• 2 pound Potatoes
• 1 1/4 pounds Beef
• 1 pound Pork
• 2 ounces Tea
• 1 pound Sugar
• 2 ounces Salt
• 1/2 ounce Mustard
• 1/4 ounce Black or White Pepper ground
• 1 gill Vinegar
• 6 ounces Lime Juice
• 1 pound Preserved Meat.
• 6 ounces Suet
• 8 ounces Raisins
• 4 ounces Butter

Mess Utensils and bedding to be supplied by the ship.

/s/ A. Jameson

For DONALD CURRIE & CO.,

THE UNION-CASTLE MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY, LIMITED

(If signed by a Broker or Agent, state on whose behalf

• Deposit - £ 5 : 0 : 0 paid 12 November 1906
• Balance * £ 14 : 19: 0 to be paid at London or Southampton
• Total - £ 19 : 19s : 0d

(Note £ stated in Pounds : Shillings : Pence )

Balance Received on the 19th November 1906 by /s/ Signature Illegible

NOTICE TO PASSENGERS

1. If Steerage Passengers, through no default of their own, are not received on board on the day named in their Contract Tickets or fail to obtain a Passage in the Ship, they should apply to the Government Emigration Officer at the Port, who will assist them in obtaining redress under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894.
2. Passengers should carefully keep this part of their Contract Ticket till after the end of the Voyage.

N.B.—This Contract Ticket is exempt from Stamp Duty.

See Back of Ticket

*The balance requires to be paid before the Passenger can embark.

Back side of Steerage Passenger Contract Ticket

Reverse Side of Steerage Passenger's Contract Ticket, The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., Ltd. - 1906. GGA Image ID # 15468d29a1

This Ticket must be produced, when required, to the Managers, or to any of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company's Officials.

The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Co., LIMITED.

DONALD CURRIE & CO., Managers.

Terms, Conditions, and Regulations Under Which Passengers and Their Luggage Are Conveyed.

1. This ticket is not transferable.
2. Stewards' fees are included in the Passage-money, which also includes the use of Bedding and Linen and a Free Table, but not Wines, Spirits, Malt Liquors and Mineral Waters, which must be paid for separately. Passengers are not allowed to take on board Wines, Spirits or other liquors. Any unpaid balance of Passage-money must be paid prior to embarkation.
3. Passengers not embarking after having engaged a passage will forfeit the Passage-money deposited and must pay any balance then unpaid forthwith.
4. Each adult third class Passenger is allowed to carry luggage to the extent of ten cubic feet free of charge, and children and servants are allowed luggage in proportion to the amount of Passage-money paid for them as compared with the full rate. The Company will not undertake to carry any excess luggage except by special agreement with the Passenger. For all such excess luggage agreed to be carried the Company will charge at the rate of 2/- per cubic foot. All Passengers' luggage must be shipped at the Port of departure, and must reach there at the latest 24 hours before the advertised time for the sailing of the ship.
5. Passengers may on shipment pay 1/- per cubic foot (in addition to the charge of 2/- per cubic foot for excess luggage) for all luggage and put the same under the Company's charge, in which case the packages are to be labelled and numbered and a receipt obtained for the same, and thereupon if any such luggage shall be lost or damaged the Company shall make good such loss or damage to the extent of £ 10 for each package and no more. Provided that if at the time of shipment a higher value than £ 10 for any package shall have been declared by the Passenger and a special rate for its carriage agreed to by the Company and paid to them, the Company will be liable for any loss or damage to such package to an amount not exceeding the value so declared. "The delivery to the Passenger on board the ship or at any port of call or otherwise of any such package shall relieve the Company from all liability in respect of the same.
6. Passengers are not allowed to take on board any dangerous goods or any goods the carriage of which is prohibited by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, or any other Statute.
7. Merchandise and articles not being Passengers' luggage cannot be carried under the name of luggage, and if found on board will be charged for at double 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 established rates of freight.
8. The Company will not be liable for loss of life or injury to, or detention, or delay of any Passenger at or between the point of departure and of arrival, however caused, although such loss, injury, detention, or delay be caused by negligence or default of the Company's servants, or although such loss, injury, detention or delay be caused by unseaworthiness or unfitness of the Ship, provided that reasonable diligence by the Company has been used to render the Ship at starting seaworthy and fit for the voyage.
9. The Company will not (except on the conditions prescribed in the condition 5 hereof) be liable for loss or damage to, or detention or delay of Passengers' luggage at or between the point of departure and arrival, however caused, although such loss, injury, detention or delay be caused by negligence or default of the Company's servants, or although such loss, injury, detention or delay be caused by unseaworthiness or unfitness of the Ship, provided that reasonable diligence has been used by the Company to render the Ship at starting seaworthy and fit for the voyage.
10. The regulations established on board of the Steamer for general comfort and safety are obligatory upon all Passengers.
11. Passengers to Ascension via St. Helena must bear their own expenses at the latter place while waiting for, the homeward bound Ship, and Passengers waiting at any Port of Call to embark in corresponding Steamers or waiting on Shore by reason of any damage or delay to the Steamer carrying them, however caused, will have to bear their own expenses on Shore.
12. The Steamer may tow and assist vessels in all situations, put back or into any port and deviate from the direct and customary course.
13. Any Passenger who may appear to the Captain 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 persons on board, or to involve the Owners, Master or Agent of the ship in any liability for his or her maintenance or support, or otherwise, under or by virtue of any Colonial or other Law or Regulation, may be landed at the Port of Embarkation or at any Intermediate Port.

Note: This voyage was rebooked 17-11-1906

Document Information

• Title: Steerage Passenger's Contract Ticket
• Issuer: The Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, Limited
• Date of Issue: 12 November 1906
• Place of Issue: Southampton, England
• Dimensions: 15.6 x 26.8 cm

Relative Cost of Passage Ticket in Today's Currency Value

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 £19 19s 0d Commodity in 1906 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real price of that commodity is £2,194.00
• labour value of that commodity is £8,165.00
• income value of that commodity is £12,410.00
• economic share of that commodity is £20,720.00

If you want to compare the value of a £19 19s 0d Income or Wealth, in 1906 there are four choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real wage or real wealth value of that income or wealth is £2,194.00
• labour earnings of that income or wealth is £8,165.00
• relative income value of that income or wealth is £12,410.00
• relative output value of that income or wealth is £20,720.00

If you want to compare the value of a £19 19s 0d Project in 1906 there are three choices. In 2020 the relative:

• real cost of that project is £2,264.00
• labour cost of that project is £8,165.00
• economic cost of that project is £20,720.00

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

🚢 RMS Walmer Castle (1906): A Voyage from Southampton to South Africa 🌍

📜 Overview: A Steerage Journey to Natal, South Africa

This steerage passage contract, issued on 12 November 1906, documents the voyage of Walter Bayley, a 27-year-old British emigrant, traveling from Southampton, England, to Natal, South Africa, aboard the RMS Walmer Castle of the Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company. The document serves as an important primary source for studying British emigration to South Africa, revealing travel conditions, fare structures, and passenger rights under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1894.

🌍 Why This Document is Important

📖 For educators & students: Provides insight into British migration to South Africa, including economic incentives, colonial expansion, and passenger conditions on long-haul voyages.

🧬 For genealogists: An invaluable ancestral record confirming departure location, passenger identity, and destination, aiding those tracing British-South African family histories.

📜 For historians: Sheds light on South African-bound British emigrants, illustrating the role of steamship lines in imperial migration.

🛳 For maritime enthusiasts: Features the RMS Walmer Castle, a Union-Castle liner crucial to British-South African maritime travel, detailing passenger contracts and voyage conditions.

📜 Key Details of the Passage Contract

📅 Date of Purchase: 12 November 1906

📅 Departure Date: 17 November 1906

🚢 Steamship Line: Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company, Ltd.

🛳 Steamship: RMS Walmer Castle

🌍 Route: Southampton → Natal, South Africa

🎟 Ticket Type: Passage Contract

💰 Cost of Ticket: £19 19s 0d (~£2,194 in 2020 GBP)

🛏 Voyage Class: Steerage

👤 Passenger: Walter Bayley (27 years old, British emigrant)

📌 Did You Know? The Union-Castle Line was a major player in British-South African trade and migration, providing reliable mail and passenger service between England and Africa.

🛳 The Journey: British Emigration to South Africa 🇬🇧➡️🇿🇦

🛶 Why Were British Migrants Moving to South Africa in 1906?

✔️ Many British citizens migrated to South Africa during the early 20th century, driven by economic opportunities, colonial expansion, and the aftermath of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902).

✔️ South Africa offered work in gold and diamond mines, agriculture, and trade, attracting skilled and unskilled laborers.

✔️ The British government encouraged emigration to strengthen imperial influence and populate its colonies.

📍 Route Details:

✔️ Departed from Southampton, England, a major port for colonial voyages.

✔️ Sailed to Natal, South Africa, an area strategically important to the British Empire.

✔️ Stopped at key ports, possibly including Madeira, Cape Town, and St. Helena, before reaching Natal.

📌 Did You Know? By 1906, Union-Castle ships dominated British-South African routes, operating fast mail steamers between England and South Africa every week.

🛳 The RMS Walmer Castle: A Ship for British Emigrants

✔️ Launched in 1902, the RMS Walmer Castle was a twin-screw steamship operated by the Union-Castle Line.

✔️ Provided a steady flow of British emigrants to South Africa, reinforcing colonial expansion and British settlement.

✔️ Designed for both mail service and passenger transport, offering steerage, second, and first-class accommodations.

✔️ Known for its speed and reliability, catering to the increasing demand for travel to South Africa.

📌 Did You Know? The Union-Castle Line was named after the merger of Union Steamship Co. and Castle Line in 1900, specializing in British-African maritime transport.

🍽 Life in Steerage: Food & Travel Conditions

⚓ Challenges of Steerage Travel on the Walmer Castle:

✔️ Steerage passengers faced cramped conditions, sharing open dormitories with minimal privacy.

✔️ Limited access to fresh air and hygiene facilities, making long voyages uncomfortable.

✔️ Food and water were rationed, with strict meal distributions based on legal requirements.

📌 Did You Know? The Merchant Shipping Act of 1894 mandated specific food rations, ensuring passengers received a minimum weekly allowance.

🥖 Steerage Passenger Rations Per Week:

✔️ 3 ½ lbs Bread or Biscuit 🍞

✔️ 2 lbs Wheaten Flour 🌾

✔️ 1 lb Oatmeal 🥣

✔️ 8 oz Rice 🍚

✔️ 1 lb Peas 🥬

✔️ 2 lbs Potatoes 🥔

✔️ 1 ¼ lbs Beef 🥩

✔️ 1 lb Pork 🥓

✔️ 2 oz Tea ☕

✔️ 1 lb Sugar 🍚

✔️ 2 oz Salt 🧂

✔️ 1 gill Vinegar 🥤

✔️ 6 oz Lime Juice 🍋 (to prevent scurvy)

📌 Did You Know? Steerage passengers were responsible for their own utensils and bedding, meaning they had to bring their own blankets and dishes for the voyage.

📜 Passenger Rights & Contract Conditions

📑 Passenger Responsibilities & Refund Policies:

✔️ Refunds were possible if the passenger was unable to board, but a fee was deducted.

✔️ Passengers had to comply with ship regulations, or risk being removed at a port stop.

✔️ Each passenger was allowed 10 cubic feet of luggage, and excess baggage required extra payment.

✔️ Stewards' fees were included in the passage cost, but alcohol and mineral water were extra.

✔️ Passengers were prohibited from bringing liquor or dangerous goods on board.

📌 Did You Know? Steerage passengers had to report any issues to a British government official at the port if they faced mistreatment or delays.

📸 Noteworthy Images in the Collection

🖼 📜 The Original Passage Contract – A detailed historical document outlining the ticketing system of Union-Castle ships.

🖼 🚢 The RMS Walmer Castle – One of the Union-Castle liners responsible for British migration to South Africa.

🖼 📄 Passenger Lists – Identifying Walter Bayley’s journey and confirming his age and destination.

💰 Cost of Passage: Then vs. Now

💰 1906 Ticket Price: £19 19s 0d (~$99.75 USD in 1906)

💰 2020 Equivalent: £2,194 to £20,720 GBP ($2,600 to $24,700 USD, depending on the economic comparison method)

📌 Comparison with Today:

✔️ A steerage ticket in 1906 was equivalent to a modern transcontinental economy-class flight.

✔️ The real economic impact of migration was substantial, requiring months of wages or sponsorship.

🔹 Conclusion: Walter Bayley’s ticket suggests he was a working-class emigrant moving to South Africa for new opportunities.

🧬 Genealogical & Historical Value of This Document

📜 For Genealogists:

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

✅ May help trace British-South African family lines.

🏫 For Teachers & Students:

✅ Shows British migration patterns to South Africa.

✅ Demonstrates colonial expansion and economic migration.

📖 For Historians:

✅ Offers evidence of British-South African migration networks.

✅ Highlights contractual travel terms for working-class migrants.