African and Caribbean War Memorial

Last updated

African and Caribbean War Memorial
United Kingdom
African and Caribbean Memorial, 31 July 2017 02 (cropped).jpg
For servicemen from Africa and the Caribbean who served alongside British and Commonwealth Forces in First World War and Second World War
Unveiled22 June 2017
Location
Windrush Square, Brixton, London, U.K.
Designed by Jak Beula, Nubian Jak Community Trust

The African and Caribbean War Memorial in Brixton, London, is the United Kingdom's national memorial to African and Caribbean service personnel who fought in the First and Second World Wars. It originated with a project for a memorial to Caribbean Royal Air Force veterans of World War II who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the MV Empire Windrush; this was an extension of the commemorative plaque and sculpture scheme run by the Nubian Jak Community Trust to highlight the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in Britain. [1] The memorial was originally to have been placed at Tilbury Docks, as part of the commemoration for the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. However, as the project began to evolve into a larger tribute that included both World Wars and commemorated servicemen and women from both Africa and the Caribbean, it was agreed by the memorial recipient – the Port of Tilbury – and the project organisers that a new, more accessible location needed to found. The memorial was ultimately permanently installed and unveiled on 22 June 2017 in Windrush Square, Brixton. [2]

Contents

Background

While the Imperial War Museum holds records for almost 70,000 memorials to the First and Second World Wars in the UK, [3] there was not one memorial specifically dedicated to commemorating the contributions to victory made by more than two million servicemen and -women from the Caribbean and Africa in both World Wars, until the initiation of the African and Caribbean War Memorial project by the Nubian Jak Community Trust, [4] which set out to remedy the neglect and oversight. [5] [6]

Location

After exploring a number of potential sites, including the National Arboretum in Staffordshire and the South Bank and Peckham Square in London, and having consulted local stakeholders, the Trust finally settled on Windrush Square in the heart of Brixton, South London. [7] The area has a strong connection with African and Caribbean culture and history, since the arrival on the MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury, near London, on 22 June 1948, bringing the first large group of West Indian migrants to the UK, among them many former servicemen. [8] The arrivals were temporarily housed in the Clapham South deep shelter in southwest London, about two miles away from Coldharbour Lane in Brixton. Many only intended to stay in Britain for a few years, and although a number returned to the Caribbean, the majority remained to settle permanently. [8]

The African and Caribbean War Memorial was temporarily displayed outside the Black Cultural Archives, 1 Windrush Square, Brixton, at 11:11 am, on 11 November 2014, at an Armistice Day ceremony — attended by veteran Sam King (1926–2016) among others — marking the centenary of World War I. [9] [10] [11]

Design

African and Caribbean Memorial, 31 July 2017 01 (cropped).jpg

The African and Caribbean War Memorial was designed by Jak Beula of the Nubian Jak Community Trust. It consists of two 6-foot obelisks made from Scottish whinstone, [1] weighing approximately 0.75 tons. It is inscribed with the name of every regiment from Africa and the Caribbean who served in World Wars I and II, as well as where they served, and when. [12] It also includes a pyramidal plinth made from Ancaster stone and weighing just under 1.5 tons (combined weight 3 tons). The memorial is supported by Lambeth Council, the Department of Communities and Local Government, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Black Cultural Archives, Madstone Limited, the Association of West Indian Personnel and a number of community stakeholders. [12]

Inscribed on the memorial are the names of every regiment from Africa and the Caribbean that contributed services to both world wars, and the words:

In Memory Of The Service Men And Women From Africa And The Caribbean Who Served Alongside The Forces Of The British Commonwealth And Her Allies During WW1 and WW2 [13]

Installation and unveiling

The memorial was in storage after November 2014, while two planning applications were submitted, and fundraising efforts made to cover the cost of its manufacture, plinth design and installation ceremony (which had originally planned for Armistice Day in November 2016). [14] Planning permission was finally granted on 28 September 2016. [15] When the Prince of Wales visited the Black Cultural Archives in February 2017 and was made aware of the memorial, he said in a speech:

"It’s so encouraging that now, at last, you have a centre such as this, which allows you to develop so many opportunities but also to bring the message to so many people in this country and elsewhere about the remarkable contribution made over so long, by people of African and Caribbean descent who have contributed so much to this country." [16]

The date chosen for the African and Caribbean War Memorial to be permanently installed in Windrush Square was 22 June 2017, when an unveiling and dedication ceremony was held. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] Other associated activities included a play, Remembered, at the Paul Robeson Theatre in Hounslow, West London, [22] [23] and the launch of a book entitled Remembered: In Memoriam, an anthology of essays, articles and narratives about African and Caribbean experiences during and in the aftermath of the world wars, compiled by Jak Beula and Nairobi Thompson. [1] [24] [25] In a letter of support to the Nubian Jak Community Trust, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II said: "It is now over 70 years since the end of that war, but it is just as important to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by those men and women who were prepared to lay down their live for our freedoms." [1]

The unveiling ceremony was attended by war veterans, Commonwealth High Commissioners and other dignitaries, as well as members of the public. [26] [27] Jak Beula said: "More than two million African and Caribbean military servicemen and servicewomen participated in the two world wars but they have not been recognised for their contribution. The unveiling of this memorial is to correct this historical omission and to ensure young people of African and Caribbean descent are aware of the valuable input their forefathers had in the two world wars." [28]

The Voice newspaper reported:

"Proceedings opened with instrumental offerings from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) military band, London All Stars Steel Orchestra and African and Caribbean drummers. These were followed by neutral prayer, delivered by two children, as well as a Christian prayer and a Muslim one. A libation was given by Professor Gus John, [29] a priest of African traditional religious persuasion – an ode to the diverse beliefs nurtured across this country. The ceremony began with a spectacular, traditional military salute and a display of flag and ensigns for each regiment by commonwealth defence representatives of land, air and sea. This was followed by African commemorative war music and dance. Medals were given out to the ex-servicemen and women who made extraordinary contributions to the war effort and public life." [26]

Those named as being honoured with medals were Alhaji Grunshi, Lionel Turpin, Walter Tull, William Robinson Clarke, Cy Grant, Ulric Cross, Sam King, Una Marson, Charles Drew, Norma Best and Allan Wilmot. [26] Present to receive his medal in person, 93-year-old veteran Wilmot (former member of 1950s group The Southlanders), [30] said: "I'm glad that I'm still alive to witness it (the recognition)." [5] Also in attendance was the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, who said that the recognition is long overdue: "The UK is indebted to all those servicemen and women from Africa and the Caribbean who volunteered to serve with Britain during the First and Second World Wars. It is thanks to their bravery and sacrifice that we are able to enjoy our freedoms today. We should also congratulate those who have worked tirelessly to place this memorial in the heart of Brixton." [6] [31] Mayor of London Sadiq Khan spoke in his address of the "courageous African and Caribbean men and women who fought with the British army during the First and Second World War", noting: "As a society we must never forget the sacrifices they made. It's vital that we pass this on to future generations, connecting children with their history." [32] [33]

"I Have a Song: Memorial Aid Project"

In support of the memorial, a fundraising single entitled "I Have A Song", composed and performed by Eric Roberson and Jak Beula, [34] was launched at the Houses of Parliament in 2016. [35] [36] [37] [38] Nonagenarian veteran Allan Wilmot has a starring role in the video of the song, which also features many artists representing reggae, hip-hop, Afro Beat and World music. [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whittington Hospital</span> NHS hospital in London

Whittington Hospital is a district general and teaching hospital of UCL Medical School and Middlesex University School of Health and Social Sciences. Located in Upper Holloway, it is managed by Whittington Health NHS Trust, operating as Whittington Health, an integrated care organisation providing hospital and community health services in the north London boroughs of Islington and Haringey. Its Jenner Building, a former smallpox hospital, is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black British people</span> British people of African descent

Black British people are a multi-ethnic group of British citizens of either African or Afro-Caribbean descent. The term Black British developed in the 1950s, referring to the Black British West Indian people from the former Caribbean British colonies in the West Indies now referred to as the Windrush Generation and people from Africa, who are residents of the United Kingdom and are British.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British African-Caribbean people</span> Residents of the United Kingdom

British African-Caribbean people are an ethnic group in the United Kingdom. They are British citizens whose ancestry originates from the Caribbean or they are nationals of the Caribbean who reside in the UK. There are some self-identified Afro-Caribbean people who are multi-racial. The most common and traditional use of the term African-Caribbean community is in reference to groups of residents continuing aspects of Caribbean culture, customs and traditions in the UK.

Val Irvine McCalla was a Jamaican accountant and media entrepreneur who settled in Britain in 1959. He is best known as the founder of The Voice, a British weekly newspaper aimed at the Britain's black community, which he established in 1982 as a voice for the British African-Caribbean community. He was honoured as a pioneering publisher for the community, but also faced critics who deemed him sensationalistic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Welsh National War Memorial</span> War memorial in Cardiff, Wales

The Welsh National War Memorial is situated in Alexandra Gardens, Cathays Park, Cardiff. The memorial was designed by Sir Ninian Comper and unveiled on 12 June 1928 by the Prince of Wales. The memorial commemorates the servicemen who died during the First World War and has a commemorative plaque for those who died during the Second World War, added in 1949.

HMT <i>Empire Windrush</i> Cruise ship

HMT Empire Windrush, originally MV Monte Rosa, was a passenger liner and cruise ship launched in Germany in 1930. She was owned and operated by the German shipping line Hamburg Süd in the 1930s under the name Monte Rosa. During World War II she was operated by the German navy as a troopship. At the end of the war, she was taken by the British Government as a prize of war and renamed the Empire Windrush. In British service, she continued to be used as a troopship until March 1954, when the vessel caught fire and sank in the Mediterranean Sea with the loss of four crewmen. HMT stands for "His Majesty's Transport" and MV for "Motor Vessel".

Nubian Jak is a multi-award-winning board game, introduced in 1994, that combines questions on historical facts with pop trivia, to highlight some of the achievements by people of colour globally.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jak Beula</span>

Jak Beula Dodd, commonly known as Jak Beula, is a British entrepreneur and cultural activist of Caribbean heritage, who is best known for inventing the board game Nubian Jak and designing the African and Caribbean War Memorial. He is also a musician, social-worker, and former model. Beula has received recognition for campaigning to commemorate black history in the UK. He is the founder and chief executive of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, which since 2006 has been memorializing the contributions of African-Caribbean people in Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Cultural Archives</span>

Black Cultural Archives (BCA) is an archive and heritage centre in Brixton, London, devoted to the histories of people of African and Caribbean descent in Britain. Also known as BCA, it was founded in 1981, by educationalist and historian Len Garrison and others. BCA's mission is to record, preserve and celebrate the history of people of African descent in Britain. The BCA's new building in Brixton, opened in 2014, enables access to the archive collection, provides dedicated learning spaces and mounts a programme of exhibitions and events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambeth Town Hall</span> Municipal building in London, England

Lambeth Town Hall, also known as Brixton Town Hall, is a municipal building at the corner of Brixton Hill and Acre Lane, Brixton, London. The town hall, which is the headquarters of Lambeth London Borough Council, is a Grade II listed building.

Nubian Jak Community Trust (NJCT) is a commemorative plaque and sculpture scheme founded by Jak Beula that highlights the historic contributions of Black and minority ethnic people in Britain. The first NJCT heritage plaque, honouring Bob Marley, was unveiled in 2006 after "two years of research and behind the scenes negotiating". The scheme has been run and managed by the not-for-profit organization Nubian Jak Trust Ltd since August 2016, with a remit to commemorate and celebrate the diverse history of modern Britain. Its objectives include the promotion of social equality and to encourage activities that promote cultural diversity in society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connie Mark</span>

Constance Winifred Mark, MBE, BEM was a Jamaican-born community organiser and activist. She served as a medical secretary in the Auxiliary Territorial Service in World War II. After moving to England in the early 1950s, she became an activist for West Indians in London, after being denied her British Empire Medal. She worked to gain recognition for Black service personnel who were overlooked for their services and co-founded the Mary Seacole Memorial Association to bring recognition to the accomplishments of the noted Jamaican nurse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windrush Square</span>

Windrush Square is an open public space in the centre of Brixton, South London, occupying an area in front of the Brixton Tate Library. After changing its name to Tate Gardens, it was again retitled and given its current moniker in 1998. The square was renamed to recognise the important contribution of the African Caribbean community to the area, marking the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush. It was the Windrush that in 1948 brought to the United Kingdom from Jamaica the first large group of post-war West Indian migrants, who on arrival were temporarily housed less than a mile away from Coldharbour Lane in Brixton.

Patrick Philip Vernon is a British social commentator and political activist of Jamaican heritage, who works in the voluntary and public sector. He is a former Labour councillor in the London Borough of Hackney. His career has been involved with developing and managing health and social care services, including mental health, public health, regeneration and employment projects. Also a film maker and amateur cultural historian, he runs his own social enterprise promoting the history of diverse communities, as founder of Every Generation and the "100 Great Black Britons" campaign. He is also an expert on African and Caribbean genealogy in the UK. He was appointed a Clore Fellow in 2007, an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for "services to the Reduction of Health Inequalities for Ethnic Minorities", and in 2018 was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton.

Neil Emile Elias Kenlock is a Jamaican-born photographer and media professional who has lived in London since the 1960s. During the 1960s and 1970s, Kenlock was the official photographer of the British Black Panthers, and he has been described as being "at the forefront of documenting the black experience in the UK". Kenlock was co-founder of Choice FM, the first successful radio station granted a licence to cater for the black community in Britain.

Beverley Bryan is a Jamaican educationist and retired academic who was a professor of language education at the University of the West Indies in Mona. Settling in Britain with her parents in the late 1950s, she went on to become a founding member of the Brixton Black Women's Group and co-authored the 1985 book The Heart of the Race: Black Women's Lives in Britain.

Windrush Day was introduced in June 2018 on the 70th anniversary of the Windrush migration. Though Windrush Day is not a bank holiday in the United Kingdom, it is an observed day. It is on 22 June. It was instituted following a successful campaign led by Patrick Vernon.

Arthur Torrington CBE is a Guyanese-born community advocate and historian who is Director and co-founder of the London-based Windrush Foundation, a charity that since 1996 has been working to highlight the contributions to the UK of African and Caribbean peoples, "to keep alive the memories of the young men and women who were among the first wave of post-war settlers in Britain", and to promote good community relations. The organization commemorates in its name the Empire Windrush, the ship that on 22 June 1948 docked at Tilbury bringing the first significant group of Caribbean migrants to Britain, including Sam King, who with Torrington established the Windrush Foundation.

<i>Custard Apple (Annonaceae), Breadfruit (Moraceae) and Soursop (Annonaceae)</i> Sculptures by Veronica Ryan in Hackney, London

Custard Apple (Annonaceae), Breadfruit (Moraceae) and Soursop (Annonaceae) are three sculptures by Veronica Ryan that stand on Narrow Way, near St Augustine's Tower in Hackney, London. They were commissioned as a memorial to the Windrush generation of British African-Caribbean people who immigrated to the United Kingdom in the wake of World War II.

Veronica Ryan’s Custard Apple (Annonaceae), Breadfruit (Moraceae) and Soursop (Annonaceae) is the first permanent public sculpture by a black female artist in the UK. — Create London

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tracey Francis, "African and Caribbean War Memorial", Keep The Faith, 18 May 2017.
  2. ↑ "First ever memorial to African and Caribbean Service Personnel unveiled in Brixton", Times Caribbean, 27 June 2017.
  3. ↑ "War Memorials Register", Imperial War Museums.
  4. ↑ "Black British War memorial by Nubian Jak" (video), Black History Walks, 30 May 2017.
  5. 1 2 "African and Caribbean service in world wars recognised", ITV News, 22 June 2017.
  6. 1 2 "First ever memorial to African and Caribbean Service Personnel unveiled in Brixton", Ministry of Defence, 22 June 2017.
  7. ↑ "Memorial for fallen African and Caribbean service personnel", The Brixton Society, 15 August 2015. Archived 8 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine .
  8. 1 2 Mike Phillips, "Windrush - the Passengers", British History: The Making of Modern Britain, BBC Online, 1998. Retrieved 4 October 2006.
  9. ↑ Shez Chung Blake, "African and Caribbean War Memorial unveiled at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton", Brixton Buzz, 12 November 2014.
  10. ↑ Nick Marsh, "UK's first African Caribbean war memorial unveiled in Brixton", YouTube, 20 January 2015.
  11. ↑ "Unveiling of New African & Caribbean War Memorial, London", Centenary News, 22 June 2017.
  12. 1 2 "Memorial To 'Overlooked' African And Caribbean War Veterans – The sculpture is the first of its kind in Europe to honour black personnel", The Voice, 10 November 2014.
  13. ↑ Lucy Skoulding (23 February 2021). "The story behind the giant statue you will have spotted in Brixton". MyLondon. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "TCTK Media: Nubian Jak - AC Memorial Promo 1 by DJ Mr.P". YouTube.
  15. ↑ Leah Sinclair, "The First Black War Memorial In Europe To Be In Brixton", The Voice, 25 November 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  16. ↑ James Twomey, "UK’s first memorial to African and Caribbean regiments to be unveiled in Brixton the ‘heart of the black European community’", Kingston Courier, 13 April 2017.
  17. ↑ "African and Caribbean War Memorial, Brixton", WW2 Talk, 31 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "ACMemorial Unveiling Ceremony 22/6/17", Events, African and Caribbean memorial website.
  19. ↑ "Countdown To Unveiling Of Historic Memorial Begins" Archived 22 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine , The Voice, 22 May 2017.
  20. ↑ Stephen Spark, "Brixton memorial will honour African and Caribbean troops", Soca News, 23 May 2017.
  21. ↑ Linda Quinn, "Brixton’s Windrush Square to be home of the brave", Brixton Bugle Blog, 26 May 2017.
  22. ↑ Linda Quinn, "Date fixed for memorial to recognise Black servicemen and women", Brixton Bugle Blog, 14 December 2016.
  23. ↑ Nubian Jak Community Trust, "African & Caribbean War Memorial", Minority Perspective, 17 May 2017.
  24. ↑ "How To Support This Work" Archived 2017-06-23 at the Wayback Machine , African and Caribbean Memorial.
  25. ↑ Jak Beula and Nairobi Thompson (eds), Remembered: In Memoriam: An Anthology of African & Caribbean Experiences WWI & WWII, Independent Publishing Network, 2017, ISBN   978-1788089005.
  26. 1 2 3 Nadine White, "Memorial Unveiled For Black Soldiers Who Fought For Britain", The Voice, 26 June 2017.
  27. ↑ "UK: First War Memorial to African and Caribbean Soldiers Unveiled", VoxAfrica UK, 23 June 2017.
  28. ↑ "Black Poppies – Britain’s Black Community and the Great War by Stephen Bourne", London News Online, 14 August 2019.
  29. ↑ "Unveiling of African and Caribbean War Memorial" Archived 2018-02-26 at the Wayback Machine , Prof. Gus John website.
  30. ↑ Delores Williams, "Brixton Calling: Alan Wilmott – soldier, singer and star", Brixton Blog, 22 June 2017.
  31. ↑ "War memorial to Afro-Caribbean soldiers unveiled in London", BBC News, 22 June 2017.
  32. ↑ "Sir Michael Fallon hopes to see more ethnic minority recruits join armed forces", Aol, 22 June 2017.
  33. ↑ "African and Caribbean war memorial finally unveiled in Brixton", ODN, 22 June 2017.
  34. ↑ "I Have A Song: Memorial Aid Project" at acmemorial.com.
  35. ↑ "Song released for memorial to African & Caribbean veterans of both world wars", Centenary News, 2 March 2016.
  36. ↑ "The African & Caribbean War Memorial share fundraising single 'I Have A Song'" Archived 3 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine , MOBO, 23 March 2016.
  37. ↑ Ade Onibada, "Record to raise funds for African and Caribbean soldiers", The Voice, 30 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "Memorial Aid, featuring Nubian Jak and Eric Roberson - Official Video" at Colourful Radio.
  39. ↑ "'I Have a Song' for the African & Caribbean Memorial" Archived 2 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine , David F. Roberts, 7 March 2016.

Coordinates: 51°27′38″N0°06′53″W / 51.4605°N 0.1148°W / 51.4605; -0.1148

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.