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1. About the Elder Dempster project

   The Homeward Bound: A Liverpool-West Africa Heritage Project documents the lives and memories of Elder Dempster’s seafaring and office staff. As part of the project, we recorded 25 oral testimonies.

2. New finds and related archives – Elder Dempster

   Read more about new finds for the Elder Dempster Lines - the largest UK shipping group between Western Europe and West Africa from the late-nineteenth century to the 1980s.

3. John Martin

   John Martin was a catering officer with Elder Dempster Lines. Read his account of his experiences with the shipping company.

4. John Goble

   John Goble was the Chief Officer for Elder Dempster Lines. John joined Elder Dempsters in 1963 as Third Mate. In his interview, John discusses the challenges of working at sea, his first impressions on West Africa and how the impact containerisation had on the industry.

5. David Anson interview – Elder Dempster

   As Second Engineer at Elder Dempster Lines, David was responsible for: the care and maintenance of machinery, the power generation, the pumping system, the refrigeration and other electrical items. Listen to David's interview.

6. Alfred William Thomas interview – Elder Dempster

   Alfred William Thomas was an engineering with Elder Dempster in the early part of the twentieth century, read the account of his experiences with the company.

7. Ray Riley

   Ray joined Elder Dempster Lines when he was just 16. Ray worked in Hamburg, before returning to Liverpool to marry. Listen to Ray's interview.

8. John Edge

   In his interview John Edge talks about his responsibilities as a Purser, as well as the pay and conditions he experienced when working at Elder Dempster Lines. Listen to John's interview.

9. Obi Okeke

   Obi Okeke was Third Mate for Elder Dempster Lines. In his interview, Obi talks about why he joined Elder Demspter Lines, about his time at the University of Southampton and what it was like on board in bad weather conditions.

10. Patrick Toosey

    Patrick Toosey was a Managing Director at Elder Dempster Lines. Listen to Patrick's interview.