The Shivering Lascar

A photograph printed in the Daily Mirror in January 1905 appeared under the heading, 'Why There Are No British Seamen'. It showed a multi-ethnic group of men and boys, standing in rows on the steps of steps of The Strangers' Home for Asiatics, Africans and South Sea Islanders. These men were often referred to as 'Lascars', an umbrella term used to describe sailors from various regions, including South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. These multi-ethnic crews faced a world of two extremes. On the one hand they experienced working in the stifling heat of the engine rooms. On the other hand, once arriving on British shores, Lascars often endured freezing conditions, particularly in cases of shipwreck, that were the antithesis of what they were accustomed to. The moments of their struggle amidst freezing temperatures, captured by the press, serve as poignant reminders of the harsh realities faced by Lascars in unfamiliar and unforgiving environments.¹

On the 15th December 1912, in the cold grip of a winter's day, the shores of Britain welcomed a peculiar sight - a crew of Lascar seamen off the Clan Farqular, a ship arriving in Dundee. Hailing from distant lands, their dusky figures wrapped in blankets as they boarded a train at the West Station for Newport. The biting chill seemed to penetrate their scanty attire, and they clung to their blankets, a meagre shield against the harsh British winter. Description of these men in the media show that the British press were keen to highlight the struggle of these men in adapting to the British climate.²

Lascars faced significant challenges in terms of basic provisions and healthcare both aboard ships and on shore. As noted by Rozina Visram (2015, p44), the men had to sleep on the bare floors without any bedding or furniture and the absence of fireplaces made it difficult for them to keep warm, and they were provided with only one blanket each, which was inadequate for the cold British climate. Furthermore, there were no separate quarters or a hospital for the sick, leading to appalling scenes where sick sailors lay on the floor covered only by a single blanket.

When Lascars arrived on British shores their conditions were not much improved, leading many to seek refuge in spaces like the Strangers' Home which provided temporary accommodation and food for foreign sailors as well as acting as a repatriation centre and a space for missionary activity. Failing to secure shelter and accommodation meant that blankets were the lone protection for these sailors against the harsh winter unless they were able to find other boarding houses.

The case of the Clan Farqular was not an isolated incident as in January of the same year amidst the wreckage of the Wistow Hall, a lone Lascar emerged from the unforgiving sea, his face etched with grief and determination. As he was assisted around the hall where the bodies lay, his eyes fell upon three familiar faces. Among them, he recognised the lifeless form of his brother, a silent testament to the perilous journey they had shared, and the ultimate price paid at sea.³ The funeral procession of the Wistow Hall victims stood as a solemn and poignant reminder of the perilous nature of sailing, particularly for Lascars.

Similar moments were captured, by the Illustrated London News, from March 1912- Lascars mostly in night-dress, wrapped in blankets, stood alongside the European members of the crew in Newhaven following the wreckage of the Oceana, a ship sailing from Tilbury for Bombay. Their journey is documented as Lascars are shown waiting to board trains from the Newhaven to London Bridge station. Lascars are then seen on their way from London Bridge Station to Fenchurch Street to continue their route to Tilbury Docks.⁴

A photograph from the Daily Mirror depicts Lascars gathered together and wrapped in blankets. The case of the Oceana is particularly interesting as it features both Lascars and European sailors as victims of the wreckage. However, it is only the Lascar portion of the crew that are highlighted as wearing blankets. The report from the Daily Mirror highlights the Lascar members of the crew gathered together, and were huddled in eider-down quilts and Witney blankets, this strange costume in many cases being set off with a flaring red turban or fez.⁵

Another depiction of the survivors of the Oceana describes them draped in large blankets seemingly barefoot. The news article, interestingly, notes that despite their predicament, most of them were able to save their pipes, which were described as being nearly as large as hookahs. This detail implies that even in challenging circumstances, the Lascars managed to hold onto personal belongings that were important to them.⁶

As the Lascars journeyed through the bustling ports and streets of Britain, their blankets became a silent testament to their experiences. They were not just seamen but bearers of stories, of resilience in the face of adversity. The shivering Lascar, wrapped in his blanket, embodied the struggles and triumphs of a seafaring life in a foreign land. The deplorable conditions faced by Lascars in Britain were exacerbated by the societal indifference and exploitation they experienced. As highlighted by prominent London missionary and author Joseph Salter (Salter, 1873, p.21), 'They may live or die no one around them cares about the life of a Lascar and as for his soul who gives a moment's thought about that.' This sentiment encapsulates the profound neglect and disregard shown towards Lascars, not just in terms of their physical welfare but also their spiritual and existential concerns.

This chapter in history serves to remind us of human resilience in the face of adversity in the transnational lives of Lascars and other sailors of colour. These cases from 1912 show men battling with harsh conditions, inadequate clothing and cultural challenges while also signifying the importance of missionaries like Salter, the Strangers' Home and other missionaries who worked to support these men on foreign lands. Significantly, the stories from the British press frame Lascars as struggling to adapt to British life / climate.