The album contains a comprehensive assembly of written and pictorial memorabilia from life aboard the ships, such as photographs of the interiors, passengers and ports of call, passenger lists, events details, menus, ship newspaper articles and postcards.

The Union-Castle Line was a prominent shipping line that operated a fleet of passenger liners and freighters between Europe and Africa from 1900 until 1977.

The RMMV Winchester Castle was built in 1930, making the 1931 voyage one of her earliest. She was requisitioned for war service before prolonged use as a migrant ship to South Africa. It was not until1949 that she returned to the mail run, operating until 1960.

MV Carnarvon Castle, built in 1926, was the first motor ship to be used on sailings between Britain and the Cape of Good Hope. In 1938, the Carnarvon Castle set a new record for passage to the Cape of 12 days, 13 hours and 38 minutes, a record that was not superseded until 1954. She was briefly requisitioned for war service as an auxiliary cruiser, after which she returned to the South Africa mail run and was scrapped 1963.