100 YEARS OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE
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s we mark 100 years of the coming together of some of Britain’s oldest Remembrance traditions, the Royal British Legion is marking the service and sacrifice of the hundreds and thousands of men and women of African or Caribbean origin or descent, from Britain and the Commonwealth. We will be sharing over 100 stories over ten weeks up until the end of Black History Month on a dedicated page on the Black History Month website. “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes” Maya Angelo
The Royal British Legion (RBL) is dedicated to ensuring the Remembrance of the service and sacrifice of all those that have done so much to defend Britain’s democratic freedoms and way of life. Remembrance is not about glorifying war and its symbol, the red poppy, is a sign of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future. This idea of Remembrance is shared in all our online learning resources, which are free to download from rbl.org.uk/TeachingRemembrance. As a country Britain is united by a shared history of service and sacrifice, communities up and down the country, across faiths, cultures, and backgrounds, have since the First World War, and in some cases before, have served as part of, or alongside, Britain’s Armed Forces. We firmly believe that Remembrance should be an opportunity for people and communities to come together to remember that shared heritage. LEFT: London, UK. 22nd June, 2017. African, Caribbean war veterans memorial to hundreds of thousands of soldiers from African and Caribbean nations who served with British, U.S. and allied forces in the two World Wars was unveiled in Windrush square, Brixton. The Nubian Jak Community Trust, which conceived the memorial, said it aimed to ensure “a lasting legacy honouring the contribution made by African and Caribbean military servicemen and women.
In our acts of Remembrance, the RBL remembers the breadth of contributions and the diversity of the service and sacrifices made, we remember; • • •
The sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth. Pays tribute to the special contribution of families and of the emergency services. Acknowledges the innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and acts of terrorism.
From the fields of Flanders in the First World War to the jungles of Burma in the Second World War, from the mountains of Afghanistan and the desserts of Iraq, across seas, oceans and skies, to the streets and hospitals of Britain, black men and women have served, and continue to serve, with courage, honour and compassion. We hope that the stories of this service will help highlight what so many have given over the last 100 years and demonstrate that across Britain’s Armed Forces and emergency services, the vital role played by black men and women goes on. Our Stories for Black History Month The story of Black British and Black African and Caribbean service and sacrifice is one that we
