M/V Dundalk Bay
From Mombasa to Hull
The M/V Dundalk Bay left Mombasa, Kenya on the 12th of August 1950 with 1,014 Polish displaced persons (DP's) onboard. These DP's were the residual persons remaining the East African camps. They were people who were rejected by the various immigration commissions in America, Canada or Australia), as uneconomic migrants or those refusing to accept the conditions of migration, which was usually a requirement to leave behind elderly or ill relatives.
Although no passenger list exists for the voyage, there are nominal rolls for both the Tengeru camp in Tanganyika and the Koja camp in Uganda. You can see the Kaczynska and Ferenc names on the nominal roll for Tengeru camp.
The 21 day long voyage arrived at Hull, a historic maritime city on the River Hull in the United Kingdom, on the 1st of September 1950, with disembarkation taking place on the 2nd of September 1950.
The new arrivals were processed at either the Priory Road Hostel or the East Moor Camp before being transferred in busses to one of ten (1) allocated camps or hostels.
Franciszka, Zofia, Ala and Bogdan were allocated to the Springhill Lodges in Gloucestershire.
The Dundalk Bay Story
Not much is written about the Dundalk Bay's journey to Hull. There were many journey's to Australia via the Dundalk Bay.
However, note in the photograph that heads the article "Poles for Britain" below, shows Ala on the deck, seated and looking at the camera.
