IN RECOGNITION of the invaluable contribution of ex-West Indian Servicemen and women, a plaque was unveiled on a home in Filey, the North of England, where many of the West Indian war veterans arrived in 1944.
Decked out in their medallions, the veterans who attended were acknowledged for their contribution to Britain when the ‘motherland’ called them up for duties.
Glenn Parsons, leader of the Filey Commemorative Association, said that during the Second World War, Britain was desperate for men to fight, and sent out a plea to men from the Caribbean to come to Britain.
“Some six thousand of them came to the UK between 1940 and 1945 and some four thousand were stationed at an old Butlins camp just up the coast from Filey; recruited by the Royal Air Force some were ground crews and pilots who came as volunteers to help Britain in the war effort.”
The significance of the unveiling according to Mr Parsons is to recognise the efforts of the veterans to Britain.
“The reason why we wanted it to be a plaque is because the (veterans) contributions were entirely erased from history and people today, young and old, have no idea that people of colour fought with distinction in the second world war for Britain”.
He added: “The recognition has been lacking. There have been stories of servicemen having to apply for their medal’s decades after; in fact some servicemen are only now receiving the medals that they have earned during the second world war”.
The plaque was unveiled on a private house on 1 April, as the local council did not approve of it being in the memorial garden of Filey.
“We wanted it in the memorial garden because we wanted it to be a part of Filey’s history, but the council were against us in relation to that so we had to look to the people of Filey themselves.”
There are many stories from the veterans of the war. Alan Clarke, who attended the function with his father Gilbert Clarke who fought in the war, told The Voice his father was stationed with the RAF in Filey.
“He (Gilbert Clarke) came over in 1944 from Jamaica as a radio and radar mechanic. At the time radar was leading edge technology and he had to repair radar and radio equipment; he came over initially to serve king and country and from there he was posted all over the UK, most notably in Cambridge.
“He remembers on “D” day when there were hundreds and hundreds of aircrafts flying overhead and everyone running out, shouting, and cheering as they knew that “D” day had arrived”.
The senior Clarke reminisced on war stories with his son many times. “He told me that he was on guard duty and nearly shot somebody in the early hours of the morning; someone was approaching him, and he called out friend or foe, but got no answer.
“So, he cocked his rifle and called out again, friend or foe and then the other person may have heard the rifle cocked and said, ‘no buddy it me, it me’; it was a USA service man who stayed out late and may have missed his bus or train back home and he thought he was in the right air force base but was in the wrong base. The military police came and collected him.”
For the recognition given to his father and other West Indian servicemen Alan noted: “I think it’s beginning to change; for a long time in schools we were not taught about the contributions that West Indians and other people from the Commonwealth made.
“It is only now years later that Jamaicans, West Indians and people from all over the Commonwealth are being acknowledged for the significant contribution and help to Britain with the war effort.”
97-year-old Alford Gardner from Jamaica told The Voice that he arrived in Filey in 1944 and remained until 1947, and later returned to the UK during the Windrush era.
He said that initially he should have spent eight weeks, but remained at the camp for five months as a motor mechanic. Pointing to the medals on his chest he added: “This is one of those things for service”.
His introduction to the British climate rekindles his memory. “It was the first time I saw snow”. “…on the beach in Filey there were lots of barriers stating out of bounds, but about five of us went down to the sea and as we went in, we get out as it was freezing cold, not like the sea where I am from”, he reminisced.
The six veterans in attendance were Neil Flanagan MBE who was trained to build and maintain the controls of fighter aircrafts, Ralph Ottey, Gilbert Clarke, Jack Crawford, Prince Albert Jacobs and Alford Gardner while RAF Air Commander Adam Samson delivered the main address.
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The question I constantly ponder is why the Monarch: Parliament, the Royal British Legion, the War office, War Historians, Writers, Editors, Columnist and Academics have not celebrated the African-Caribbean peoples military contribution in defence of England, during the Second European War?
This plaque on a home in Filey, in the North of England, honours Mr Neil Flanagan MBE who was trained to build and maintain the controls of fighter aircraft, Mr Ralph Ottey, Mr Gilbert Clarke, Mr Jack Crawford, Mr Prince Albert Jacobs and Mr Alford Gardner, and thousands of their Caribbean military peers; who volunteered their life in defence of England.
This plaque is welcomed.
However, as African-Caribbean people remain politically marginalised in English society, the African-Caribbean people’s military contribution in defence of England, requires the Monarch; Parliamentarians, the Royal British Legion, Historians and other leading Caucasian-heritage Public Figures to be at the forefront of leading and celebrating Caribbean people’s wartime military contribution.
There is only one ethnic and religious group of people, who are celebrated: honoured and remembered, by the Monarch; Parliament, the Royal British Legion, the BBC, Hollywood, Historians, Academics, Editors, Reporters, Columnists, and whose German interwar persecution dominate English pupils’ history curriculum- indeed, English pupils know more about this ethnic people’s German suffering than they know of the history of England’s rulers.
Not all ethnic groups are treated equally, by the leaders of English society.