Ahoy - Mac's Web Log

March 08, 2009

Could you please help me Mac, 

As a small child I sailed on the Athenia from Canada, I think maybe from Montreal. We had been living in Toronto, Our journey was either July 4th 1933 or August 1933. I have been trying to find a passenger list to confirm dates because I am writing my story for my Grandson and would like to get accurate information. There are several dates of travel I am seeking for other journeys but find it very difficult to get passenger lists. I would be most grateful if you could help me. Thank you in anticipation.

sincerely,   Davina Curtis.

Davina,

The problem with the BT 26 records at the PRO Kew is that you cannot access them on line via the internet.

One needs to physically go to Kew and not get much assistance.

"To remind everyone,and for anyone new to the list,here are the dates for which you can find the series of Board of Trade British passenger lists, together with a brief description of what you may find.

Note that these lists are NOT filmed! They can only be seen at the Public Record Office in Kew, England. They are very time consuming to search, there are no indexes of any kind at Kew and no official 'finding aids' exist.

BT26 - Passenger Lists, Inwards, 1878-1888 and 1890-1960

These give the names of all passengers arriving in the UK where the ship's voyage began at a port outside Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Names of passengers who boarded these ships at European ports and disembarked in the UK will be included in these lists. However it should be noted that passenger lists for ships whose voyages both began and ended within Europe (including the UK and the Mediterranean Sea) are not included. There is a small collection of lists between 1878 and 1888. The continuous run begins in 1890."

Here is a note saying that Canada did not keep records of those leaving the country, that I find quite bizarre.

The Government of Canada did not keep records of people leaving the country; there are no passenger lists for departures from Canadian ports.

Regret I am not of much use in your quest.
 
Regards, 
Mac.

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