Sharon's blog

Ahead of Aston Villa's home game against Tottenham Hotspur in November (2014) a 'Parade of Remembrance' was held. WAWI Veterans joined comrades to mark the Centenary of the 1st World War. 

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Undivided India which includes the Countries today called Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma (Myanmar) Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal contributed to the war efforts by sending over 1,105,000 Indian personnel overseas.

India's contribution was not confined to the army. The Royal Indian Marine was armed in 1914, some of its ships serving with the Royal Navy on escort duties and others as costal minesweepers or river gunboats in the Mesopotamia campaign.

The role of the Indian merchant services in transportation and supply was no less essential than that of their comrades in arms.

Since 1928, the notes of the Last Post have broken the silence across the cobbled streets of Ypres, a town entirely rebuilt from the rubble and devastation that had been visited upon Flanders during the First World War.

The vast, white, Portland-stone walls of the Menin gates are engraved with the names of nearly 55,000 British and Commonwealth Soldiers lost on the field of battle but with no know graves; a son, a father, a brother. These men are long gone but the residents of Ypres make sure they are not forgotten.

Courtesy of Russell Edwards

Picture the scene: A man lies pole-axed on the floor whilst his colleagues plead with a higher source to help him and fight off the enemy; a scene from a Manchester derby? No, this is the Somme, 25th March 1918, the war to end all wars; Walter Tull about to draw his last breath.

Vincent Daniel was destined to follow the family trend and join the teaching profession until the Army was suggested as an alternative and means to learning a trade. On 4th September 1964; aged 19, he began basic training at Sutton Coldfield Barracks as a Fusilier with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment.

The WAWI Project supports any organisation that puts education at the top of their agenda. For that reason members were proud to be on parade at St Matins Church for a Service of Remembrance of the Birmingham Blitz and of Thanksgiving for the Survivors.

Its aim to commemorate the 2241 people who lost their lives during the Second World War bombing of Birmingham between 9th August 1940 and the 23rd April 1943.

"We give thanks for the courage of our brothers and sisters in arms. For the strength of their backs and their wills, for the grit and their trustiness, for their spirit and determination, for their sense and their skill. We give you thanks. May we be to them as good a comrade as they have been to us, and may your strong arm defend and empower us daily".

Service led by Rev. David Bennett, Padre, FBESA.

Many Caribbean women appear to have a pre-determined calling to join the Caring Profession.

In 1780 Couba Cornwallis nursed Horatio Nelson back to health when he was struck down with fever, and Mary Seacole travelled to the Crimea to help wounded Soldiers.

When in 1948 the Minister of Health spearheaded a new venture 'The National Health Service' an extensive and energetic recruitment campaign was put into place for qualified people from the Caribbean.

Their response overwhelming; each individual responding to the call of duty.

22nd June 2013 marked the 65th Anniversary of the arrival of the SS EmpireWindrush. Yet in truth until 6 years ago I had no knowledge or understanding as to what Windrush was or meant. Thankfully that changed because of one person who has worked tirelessly uncovering England's Hidden History, educating a nation and teaching us all the true meaning of kinship.

Standards Paraded included:

The Memorial Gates, Constitution Hill, London were opened in 2002 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the sacrifices made by the people of Africa, Asia and the West Indies.

An exhibition 'We Were There was also set up by the Ministry of Defence and British Armed Forces to support the occasion.