In order to take up his role in Nigeria, Joseph had to travel by steamship, normally from Liverpool but occasionally from Plymouth, to Lagos (Iddo), Nigeria. The trip was approximately 4100 miles and took around 2 weeks.
Bearing in mind on 11 March 1915 the first passenger ship, RMS Falaba, is sunk by German U-boat U-28, this could not have been an easy journey – Germany does not stop sinking ships until August that year.
We do not have records of all of Joseph’s trips, but we believe the timeline looks something like this:
- OUT: 6 May 1914 – MS Mendi – Liverpool – Accra (Kay is born on 4 October 1914)
- IN: 18 June 1915 – SS Abinsi – Lagos – Liverpool
- OUT: 20 October 1915 – SS Abosso – Liverpool to Lagos
- IN: Missing return journey to the UK
- OUT: 4 April 1917 – SS Karina – Liverpool – Iddo (Joseph served with the 3rd Nigerian Regiment)
- IN: 13 February 1919 – SS Mandingo – Iddo – Liverpool
- OUT: 13 August 1919 – SS Elmira – Liverpool – Iddo
- IN: 4 August 1920 – SS Windhuk – Iddo – London
- OUT: 1 December 1920 – SS Akabo – Liverpool – Iddo
- IN: 19 February 1922 – SS Asa – Iddo – Plymouth (Son Thomas died on 5 December 1922)
- OUT: Missing outward journey to Nigeria
- IN: 18 August 1923 SS Adda Iddo – Liverpool
- OUT: 19 August 1925 – SS Abinsi – Liverpool – Iddo
- IN: Missing return journey to the UK
- OUT: 2 July 1927 – SS Asa – Liverpool – Lagos
- CATHERINE – OUT: 17 August 1927 – SS Accra – Liverpool – West Coast Africa MCJ Patton (Female), travelling first class.
- CATHERINE AND JOSEPH IN: 11 March 1928 – SS Accra – Liverpool – Iddo Catherine and Joseph return together.
- OUT: 11 July 1928 – SS Abinsi – Liverpool – Iddo
- IN: 15 April 1930 – SS Accra – Iddo – Plymouth
Here are some posters and images of some of the shipping lines and ships that Joseph travelled on at the time:
The Ardrossan McFarlanes 