Research for TV drama 'Foyle's War'

Hi, Mary - I've answered this elsewhere - the net has been cast far and wide...but now I've followed the trail back to source!

Try small or very old established shipping agents or insurance companies Government documents might list cargoes in broad terms...but only a ship's manifest would list it in detail, and I've no idea if they'd be kept centrally. I certainly doubt it though, it's just "user level" commercial admin.

Where does Lloyds of London keep their historical material??? That would give you a British equivalent of what was listed on a ship's manifest for insurance purposes...

 

Largest business archives in the UK are at Glasgow University Archives Services. Might be a good place to start.

 

Its probably not much use as it is both wrong period and wrong nation but seeing as some of the shipping lines like Norddeutscher Lloyd operated throughout ww1 and ww2 i wondered whether the manifests would have changed much from the earlier times.

If you wanted to look at a WW1 example how about the Lusitania supplementary manifest (controversial cargo anyone? )?

http://www.rmslusitania.info/downloads/crossing202_supplementary_cargo_manifest.pdf

Edit (from here on additional info not in original post) : http://www.admiraltylawguide.com/conven/haguerules1924.html

Hague rules 1924 cover bills of lading (not amended til '68 i believe). The German Republic was a signatory. Not the same as the records you are looking for, but article 3.3 a-c gives details of what must be included. I'm guessing that the records you are describing would have to at a minimum include this information. Note italics for level of expertise of poster.

 

Thank you all for your help.

This Lusitania document is really interesting:
http://www.rmslusita...go_manifest.pdf

Thanks Jimmytwohand
I guess I need the 1940s equivalent. It's proving extremely difficult to find. I'm trying all the avenues you have suggested above but if anybody has any other ideas, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

No problem. Sorry i could not do more. Moan as i do about the lack of accuracy on TV i thought i had better put my money where my mouth was. Like so many things i gob off about though it has been harder than expected. I'll keep tying to dig but i cant really think of any more avenues to pursue. Best of luck and make sure to update us if you find anything. It may help the next poor swine to come looking.

J