Barbados during World War I and World War II

Stories about Barbados during the war years 1914 to 1945.

CNS Lady boats poster

The Canadian Lady Boats

Between 1928 and 1952 The Canadian National Steamship Company Lady Boats (The Canadian Lady Boats) operated two routes from Canada to the West Indies the: eastern-route route: where steamships, Lady Nelson, Lady Hawkins and Lady Drake, provided a year-round service every two weeks from Halifax to Bermuda, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Montserrat, Dominica, St. Lucia, …

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Col. Reginald Michelin, Commissioner of Police, Barbados, 1949 to 1953

It was always hot – Memoirs of Col. Reginald T. Michelin, Commissioner of Barbados Police 1949-1953 post Col. Oriel St.A. Duke

Reginald Townend Michelin (1903-1998), CMG (1957), CVO (1953), OBE (1952) took the post of Sub-Inspector, Police, Jamaica, 1924 and Inspector, Police, Leeward Islands, 1928. He was made Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nigeria, 1930, and Commissioner of Police, Barbados, 1949 and Jamaica, 1953, retiring in 1958 from the Colonial Police. In 1940 he married Nina Gladys …

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Aerial view of Carlisle Bay including torpedo net - 1942

Anti Submarine & Torpedo Net – Carlisle Bay, Barbados 1942

In early September 1942 the Royal Navy installed an anti-submarine and anti-torpedo boom net across Carlisle Bay. That boom net was tested and breached on 11th September 1942 shortly after 4:30 by German U-boat 514. Carlisle Bay in 1942 was much deeper than it is today. Burkes beach at times had no beach and the …

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Errol Barrow, Statesman, PM Barbados, RAF Navigator - crew graduation No. 31 OTU RAF Debert, Nova Socia Canada - 7 April 1944

F/O Errol Barrow RAF Navigator World War II & Prime Minister of Barbados

Errol Walton Barrow (21st January 1920 – 1st June 1987): distinguished Barbadian statesman, visionary leader and a champion of Caribbean unity who led Barbados to independence on 30th November 1966 and then served as Barbados’ first and fourth Prime Minister. Prior to independence from: 1961 to 1966 as leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Errol …

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Blackwood Screw Dock - 1910 to 1939

Barbados Blackwood Screwdock (dry dock)

Our guest contributor is Keith Mackie, a South African Consulting Coastal & Harbour Engineer who specialises in Dry Docks and the Dry Docking of ships.  In December 2009 he was brought to Barbados by Caribbean Lifestyles Ltd. to survey the Blackwood screwdock and assess its potential for conservation and restoration.  Sitting in the Blackwood dock …

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Snappy Snaps 1910 - 1939

A sailing trip aboard the schooner Mary M. Lewis from Bridgetown to Georgetown – Summer 1939.

This is the story of a sailing adventure by 3 boys: Joe Burton (aged 18), Jim Burton (aged 16) and “Ginger” Edwards (aged 16?) who sailed from Bridgetown to Georgetown and back on board the schooner Mary M. Lewis in the summer of 1939.  Joe Burton and Jim Burton were brothers. “Ginger”Edwards was the junior …

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