Armed Forces Community Garden in Hillfield Park, Soilhull has opened benefiting veterans and their family members, local schools and other members of the community.

The garden is a peaceful sanctuary for remembrance and reflection. It is also hoped it will be a place to help people overcome isolation, as it will provide a welcoming place to meet up and interact with others.

The area is principally divided into three zones: a sensory garden - with a distinctive, curving design - a summer flower meadow and a community woodland.

Do you know a male or female who has served in the British Army? (Not applicable for those who have served in the RAF or Navy)

A Chelsea Pensioner, or In-Pensioner, is a resident at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army located in Chelsea, London.

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is the home to 300 retired British soldiers, male and female (the latter since 2009) and is located on Royal Hospital Road.

What is Fashion, Talent and Black History

Samantha Prescott the Creative Director created this showcase in tribute to her late Grandmother Vena Prescott. Who use to share her life memories of her journey from Jamaica to England in the 1950s. Samantha has always been a vintage enthusiast and had a passion for collecting vintage items. With the vision of keeping her grandmother’s legacy alive and her love of fashion. The fashion, talent and black history show was created. The showcase features fashion from the 1940s up to the 1990s, incorporated into the show with the era looks is a musical journey. The fashion show aims to be authentic when taking you back in time, fun, memorable and emotive.

Members of the WAWI Project

It gives me great pleasure to write to inform you formally that the WAWI Project has been selected for a Silver Award under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. I am very conscious of the work that goes on behind the scenes to gain this level of recognition, and I offer sincere congratulations on behalf of the West Midland Reserve Forces and Cadets Association.

Mrs Roma Taylor (nee Greaves), founder of the Windrush Cymru Elders is a prime example of a forgotten British Army veteran and hero of her local community in Cardiff.  She came to the UK as part of the Windrush Generation and took up the vocation of a nurse within the NHS, like so many others in Britain’s hour of need.  In 1959, Roma joined 203 Field Hospital (formerly known as 203 General Hospital in the Territorial Army) as a Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) Nurse.  She combined her day job in the NHS with serving the nation (twice the citizen)

Article by Bill Hern and Steve Charlton

In November 2020 the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Museum (Warwickshire) paid £10,540 to secure a plaque commemorating the man believed to be the first British regiment officer from an ethnic background to die in World War 1. That man was Lieutenant Euan Lucie-Smith and this is his remarkable story.

Euan Lucie-Smith was born in St Andrew, Jamaica on 14th December 1889.

As Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon walked up the aisle of Westminster Abbey in 1923 to marry the future King George VI, she released her father’s arm, stepped aside, and tenderly placed her bouquet on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior before approaching the altar.

It was a touching tribute to her brother Fergus Bowes-Lyon, a captain in the 8th Black Watch who was killed at the Battle of Loos on 27 September 1915, aged 26. Elizabeth's tribute to the Unknown Warrior became a tradition followed by every royal bride since.

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-victory-parade-1946-online

Soldiers from the far reaches of the British Empire arrive in London to take part in the official commemoration of the end of war in Europe, a lavish state ceremony that took place over a year after actual V.E Day, on 8th July 1946.

As we continue our educational journey highlighting and celebrating the positive links between West Indians and UK Armed Forces, we are proud to have become one of the latest signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant.

Reinforcing our support to those who have served, those currently serving and those who will serve in the future.

We salute you all.

The WAWI Project was founded in 2009 answering the question “Why are West Indians in this Country”. Following a meeting in 2011 with the then County Chairman of the Royal British Legion Dave Gooding we were put in touch with the British and Caribbean Veterans Association.

We took with us a Standard of the West India Regiment to showcase our work and Lee quickly volunteered to carry the Standard on our behalf at the 90th Annual Poppy Parade.