Irrawaddy Flotilla Company facts for kids
The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company (IFC) was a huge shipping company. It carried people and goods on the Irrawaddy River in a country called Burma, which is now known as Myanmar. This company was owned by people from Scotland and managed by P Henderson & Company from Glasgow. The IFC ran its services from 1865 until the late 1940s. At its busiest in the late 1920s, the IFC had the largest fleet of river boats in the world. They had over 600 ships, carrying about 8 to 9 million passengers and 1.25 million tons of cargo every year!
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How the Company Started
The IFC began in 1865 as the Irrawaddy Flotilla and Burmese Steam Navigation Co Ltd. Its main job was to move soldiers up and down the Irrawaddy River. Soon, the company started carrying passengers, rice, government supplies, and mail. They traveled from Rangoon to places like Prome, Thayetmyo, and Mandalay. By 1868, their routes reached even further to Bhamo.
In 1875, the company's name was made shorter to the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company. Even though it was officially registered in Glasgow, Scotland, its main operations were in Rangoon. They also had a big shipyard across the river in Dalla.
The company's services became super important for the oil fields upriver at Yenangyaung and Chauk. They carried supplies and heavy equipment needed for oil production. The IFC stayed important even after Burma became independent from Britain. This was partly because the railway to Mandalay followed a different river, the Sittaung River, not the Irrawaddy.
Most of the ships were paddle steamers. They were usually built in Scotland, then taken apart, shipped to Burma, and put back together there. The flotilla was privately owned, but it also did many jobs that a government would normally do. These jobs included sorting and delivering mail, keeping the river clear for boats, and providing ships during wartime.
The IFC also transported important people, like royalty and high-ranking officials. Many viceroys (who were like governors) toured Burma, often traveling on the Irrawaddy River with lots of celebration. For these special trips, the ships were painted white with yellow funnels, which were the official government colors.
IFC ships did not have enclosed wheelhouses back then. This allowed the captain to move freely on the open front deck for a clear view of the river. There was also a second steering spot on the main deck. This was mostly used at night because a bright searchlight on the upper deck made it hard to see from above.
Traveling on the Ships
Many visitors chose to travel all the way from Rangoon to Mandalay on a large steamer. This trip took about eight days. Others picked a slower cargo steamer, which gave them more time to explore the interesting towns along the way. No matter which route they chose, a trip on an IFC steamer was a must-do when visiting Burma.
The first-class section was at the front of the ship. This area was for European business people, government workers, army officers, and wealthy tourists. They enjoyed the best comfort, with cabins made of teak wood and brass, fancy meals in the dining room, and more privacy.
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The second-class section was at the back of the upper deck. This is where Indian money lenders, Chinese shop owners, Armenian bankers, and German-Jewish merchants usually stayed. Their living standards were simpler, but the service and facilities were still good.
In the middle of the open deck, about 3,000 deck passengers would sit on their luggage. They would have picnics or visit the canteen at the back of the ship. These passengers were often local Burman people from different backgrounds. They formed a lively community of travelers. This setup showed how society was organized in colonial Burma. Europeans were at the front, wealthy traders at the back, and local Burmans in the middle. Everyone would often chat and smoke cigars, creating a unique mix of cultures on board.
The Fleet is Sunk
In 1942, the entire IFC fleet was purposely sunk. This was done to stop the Imperial Japanese Army from using the ships when they invaded Burma during World War II. As the Japanese forces moved through the country, the British decided to sink the ships. This prevented the enemy from getting their hands on the vessels, which could have been used for military purposes.
The sinking of the fleet was a big moment in the British losing control of Burma. The riverboats that once carried people and goods were now at the bottom of the river. Sinking the ships was not just a military plan; it was also a sad loss for many people. Everyone from the colonial leaders to local communities depended on the IFC's services for trade and travel. The fleet, which was a key part of the country's transportation, was gone. This marked the end of an era of river travel that had shaped the region for many years. The sinking of the fleet left a lasting mark on Burma's history. It also started a new time under Japanese control, changing the country and the lives of those who relied on the IFC.
The Future of River Cruises
In 1998, a person named Paul Strachan found an original steamer called the Pandaw. It was built in Scotland, just like the old IFC ships. He arranged to rent and fix it up. Paul and Roser Strachan then brought back river cruises along the Irrawaddy River. They were the first to offer these trips since the colonial times. The Irrawaddy River stretches over a thousand miles from the sea. In the last 30 years, the new IFC changed its name to Pandaw. Its main office is now in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Famous Poem
The paddle steamers of the IFC inspired famous lines written by the poet Rudyard Kipling:
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- By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea,
- There's a Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me;
- For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the temple-bells they say:
- "Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!"
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- Come you back to Mandalay,
- Where the old Flotilla lay:
- Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?
- On the road to Mandalay,
- Where the flyin'-fishes play,
- An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!
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