The collection includes 250 letters from Derek Ings to his parents, dated between October 1943 and October 1946; and also diaries covering the same period and some ephemera collected while abroad. The letters by Derek P. Ings were written while serving as Assistant Purser, on board SS CHANTILLY from 19 October 1943 to 4 October 1944 and also give details of the Bombay Explosion occuring on 14 April 1944; as Purser on MS CHANDA from 24 October 1945 to 14 July 1946 and SS QUEDA, from 31 August 1946 to 17 October 1946. Ings has included a special selection of ephemera related to the Bombay Explosion (see DRI/15).

There are also 18 theatre programmes (DRI/10) and 13 overseas newspapers from 1942 to 1946 (DRI/9); four diaries, 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1946, (DRI/1) and a selection of related ephemera (approx 110 items).

Administrative / biographical background
Derek Ings joined the BISN Co. (British India Steam Navigation Company) in October 1939, age 14, starting work at their dock office (Royal Albert Dock). He went to sea as a purser during World War II before returning to BI head office in 1946. The letters cover six months as a purser on a troopship; six months in Bombay while the ship was converted to a hospital ship, and here Ings witnessed the 'Bombay Explosion' (the cargo ship SS FORT STIKINE exploded, 14 April 1944, carrying, amongst other things, explosives, raw cotton, munitions and gold bullion); twelve months spent on a hospital ship and another twelve months on round-the-world voyages aboard various cargo ships.