A LEGACY OF VALOUR

BY LT COL TIM PETRANSKY A LEGACY OF VALOUR

BlackHistoryMonth2018coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Armistice;a fitting time to reflect on the contribution of the heroic andinspirationaldeedsofAfro-Caribbean soldiers to Britain.As Armed Forces we championrecognitionoftheserviceofblack servicemen and women and people from theCommonwealthandethnicminorities. Theseexamplesareselectbuthighlight the contribution of Afro-Caribbeans, underlining our shared heritage.They exemplifydetermination,professionalism, commitment and loyalty. TheVictoria Cross (VC),the Armed

Forces’highest award for valour,has been awarded to four Afro-Caribbean service personnel.Firstin 1857,WilliamHallofthe

Navy,most recently Sergeant Johnson

Beharry,from Grenada,in 2004. The first black soldier to win aVC was

SamuelHodgefromtheBritishVirginIslands in1866.Underfierceenemyfire,hehacked his way into a stockade where he Hodge and his Commanding Officer Colonel

D’Arcyforcedthegates,allowingitscapture.

D’Arcy cited Hodge“the bravest soldier in the Regiment.”

Hodge was seriously wounded in the action.Our medics who apply life-saving treatment to the injured,often under fire, are the embodiment of courage and selfless commitment. InthismouldwereMajorJamesAfricanus BealeHortonandMarySeacole. Horton,born to freed slaves in Sierra Leone in 1835,qualified as a doctor in Britain.HejoinedtheArmyasanAssistant Surgeon,one of the first Africans in the officercorps,participatinginseveralwars. Armyservicehelpedhimdevelopimportant medical theories,earning him acclaim andpromotion.Heisheldas theFatherof modern African political thought writing pioneering works to rebut ideas of scientific racism. Seacole supported the Army during the CrimeanWar from a sense of service to the wounded.Born in Jamaica in 1805 she achieved much before following the Army to Crimea in 1854.Here she set up an establishment caring for wounded soldiers,travellingtobattlefieldsonseveral occasions to tend casualties and was nicknamed‘MotherSeacole’bysoldiersfor hercompassion.Seacoleiscommemorated by a statue outside StThomas’Hospital. WalterTull,a true role model, demonstratedpatience,humility,fortitude andbravery,enduringracismandhardship butcameoutontop.Aprofessionalfootball playerbeforeWorldWarOnehejoined the Armyin1914.Despiteprevailingattitudes, his ability and strength of example saw himselectedasanofficer,thefirstblackman to lead white troops.He was mentioned in dispatches for bravery but was killed on the 8 March 2018. Theseexamplesillustrate thevaluable contribution of Caribbean and African peopletotheArmy,evenmoreremarkable considering the barriers they faced.The modern Army aspires to represent the society it serves.Diversity is a strength in today’s complex world and closely aligns to two of the Army’s core values:Respect for Others and Integrity. Serving today arepeoplefrommanydifferent ethnicities and colours who can be proud of their illustrious forebears,who would be immensely proud of them. MARY SEACOLE

WALTER TULL

Windrush at 70 Years and 4 Months

Exclusive Interview with The Prime Minister, Theresa May

When I went along last June to Downing Street in the midst of the Windrush furore, who would have known that our very own National Day was to be imminently announced. A strategic move placing the people of the Caribbean diaspora in the annals of the British Institution forever.

National Windrush Day is here now, and not only for the descendants of the Empire Windrush voyagers but for every citizen of the United Kingdom. It serves as a portal to times long past, recent history and to the hope of the future, confirming that we all belong to a Kingdom that we have enriched and has equally enriched us in many ways.

We acknowledge this recognition with thanks and look forward to the days when all issues are resolved and all ethnic groups of the United Kingdom can pick up the batons of hope with confidence thus securing a good future for themselves, their descendants and the communities in which they live.

Thank you Prime Minister May.

The first generation of Windrush arrivals were able to buy their own homes, enabling them to generate relative accumulative wealth, security for their children, and prosperity. What plans, and policies do you have in place for young people today to be able to do the same? On my first day as Prime Minister,I set out how I want to see this country working for everyone - a country where,regardless of where you live or what your parents do for a living,you have a fair chance to build a life for yourself and your family. Youth unemployment is down by 20% since 2010,more 18 year-olds are going to university than ever before,we’ve raised the amountpeoplecanearnbeforetheypayback their student loan,and we’re introducing newT-Levels so people have gold standard qualifications whether they want to go to university or not. ButIknowthatoneofthebiggestworries

BY JOY SIGAUD

for the younger generation is about getting on thehousingladder.Wearebuildingmore homes,helping people with schemes like Help to Buy,and last Autumn we scrapped stamp duty for four in every five first time buyerstohelppeoplegetahomeoftheirown.

In light of the recent Windrush scandal, there are many misunderstood conceptions about the right of abode in the UK as full British Citizens for the Windrush generation and their descendants. Are there now guidelines available for people from the Windrush generation who have had to return to their country of birth? What are the provisions in place to facilitate ease of return to the UK for these people? It should never have been the case that people from theWindrush generation faced problems proving their status,and I remain deeply sorry for the distress this has caused somefamilies.Wehavelet youdown,andwe willdowhateverit takestoendtheanxieties you face. In April,we announced further steps to enable theWindrush generation to acquire the status they should always have had –British citizenship – quickly,at no cost and with assistance through the process. Anyonewhocame to thiscountrybefore 1973 will be able to apply,without needing to provide definitive documentary proof of date of entry and of continuous residence. Wehavealsowaivedthefeeforanychildren ofparentsfromtheWindrushgeneration, who are in the UK and not yet British citizens,and whowant to apply for naturalisation. Putsimply,anyonefromtheWindrush generation who wants to become a British citizen will be able to do so –and this also includes children of parentsfromtheWindrushgeneration. Commonwealth citizens who’ve lefttheUKcanresumetheirresidence hereby obtainingareturningresident visa.Andwe’remakingsurethevisa rules are interpreted generously in respectoftheWindrushgeneration, who have spent a considerable time in the UKandwhomaynot haveknown they were forfeiting residence here when they left. Again,that application will be made available free of charge. Equally,there are those of theWindrush generation who retired to another country but want to return to the UK temporarily as visitors to see friends and family.Those who qualify can apply for a visit visa free of charge, which is valid for 10 years.

Will the Windrush Generation and their descendants now be issued with British Passports with all its rights and privileges? Yes - any Commonwealth citizen who arrived in the UK before 1973 and has lived here since then will be entitled to apply for British citizenship,free of charge.Andthechildren of theWindrush generation who joined their parentsbefore they turned 18 will also be able to apply for citizenship for free;and children born to theWindrush generationinthe

UKwillbeabletogetfreeconfirmationoftheir existingBritishcitizenshipiftheyneedtodoso.

The availability of Home Office’s micro centres and civil servants in key areas such as Brixton and Croydon as a facility for those wishing to regularise their right to stay in Britain is appreciated. Can we expect to see a comprehensive overhaul of the Home Office? Sajid Javid made clear when he started in office that his department could expect to see an overhaul following the difficulties some people from theWindrush generation have faced. TheHomeOfficehasnowsetupadedicated team working with Commonwealth citizens who have lived in the UK a long time and are worried about their immigration status; andhasalsoannouncedaWindrushScheme to make it easier for individuals to access support and understand what is on offer. The department has also made sure that caseworkers are on hand to help individuals build a picture of their lives in the UK,and work with other government departments to find their records,if helpful. We have also announced a call for evidence on compensation for those,including the Windrush generation,who have faced difficulties in establishing their status under theimmigrationsystem.Thisisanopportunity for anyone affected to tell us about their experience to help shape the compensation scheme – but people can also speak,in confidence,to Home Office staff and ask for help to resolve their case.

Historically, communications between the Windrush Generation and their descendants with the police have been tense. How do you propose to end this gridlock? I know that there is sometimes a lack of trustbetweenmanyBlackandminorityethnic communities,and the police.I want to help to rebuild that trust and I am committed to making sure everyone is treated fairly by the justicesystem.That’swhyasHomeSecretary I made changes to improve the use of stop and search,and we are working to increase the diversity of our police workforce,as well as strengthen the police discipline and complaints processes.All of this will help to build trust anddriveupconfidenceinpolicing across all communities. Morebroadly,peoplefromallcommunities need tohaveconfidence that theirindividual needs will be understood and respected.I launchedtheRaceDisparityAuditlastOctober in order to shine a light on how people of different ethnicitiesare treatedacrosspublic services by publishing data held by the Government.If these disparities cannot be explained they need to be changed.Britain has come a long way in spreading equality and opportunity,but there is more to do to buildacountry that trulyworksforeveryone.

What is your message to the Windrush generation? It’s very simple.I’m sorry for the distress that’s been caused and I am determined we will put this right.TheWindrush generation are British.They helped to build a modern Britain.They are part of us and every aspect of our national life – from sport to business, to politics to music,literature and academia. This year marks 70 years since some of the first arrived in the UK aboard the Empire Windrushandwehaveachance tocelebrate the enormous contribution that people from aroundtheCommonwealth–andtheirchildren and grandchildren – have made to Britain over seven decades.Our culture has been enriched and our society has been made strongerbecauseof thepeoplewho travelled here to build new lives in the UK. I want to thank all those from the Windrush generation for their contribution and want them to know,Britain has always been – and will always be - their home.