On 21 February 1917, during the 1st World War, Mendi was transporting 823 personnel of the South African Native Corps to France. She had sailed from Cape Town to Lagos (Nigeria) where a gun was fitted to her stern, then on to Plymouth; before proceeding towards Northern France.

At 5am, while being escorted by the destroyer HMS Brisk, Mendi was struck amidships and almost cut in half by the SS Darrow, an empty meat ship bound for Argentina.

616 South Africans (607 of them black troops) plus 30 crew members, mostly British, died in the disaster.

WAWI Project was proud to be a key contributor at a special commemoration event to remember the contribution and sacrifices of Caribbean servicemen and women in World War 1.

http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/tributes-hidden-heroes-world-war-one

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. 

For more images please visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/129917193@N06/sets/72157649337731047/page2/

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.

Here's a fine example of the WAWI Project working in partnership with RAF Museum Cosford; supporting Pilots of the Caribbean: Volunteers of African Heritage in the RAF.

See Julie Knox reporting for Forces TV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fj7fKfyWJcc

The exhibition is open daily, 10am - 5pm, Free Admission at Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, TF11 8UP - 01902 376200

WAWI members attended the launch of Pilots of the Caribbean at RAF Cosford on Monday 6th October. We're proud to see our Standard Bearer Don Campbell featuring on ITV Central News promoting the exhibition.

To see the official ITV News report; aired 13th October; please view the link below.

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/update/2014-10-15/pilots-of-the-caribbe...

A bronze sculpture celebrating the people who lived and worked in Cardiff Bay.

The Cardiff dockland district in Wales, known today as Cardiff Bay was transformed by the Industrial Revolution. Tiger Bay (as it was formally known) became a global coal producer and a bustling cosmopolitan, with migrants travelling from the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and the Middle East to settle and work in the surrounding dockland area. The Cardiff of today has a richly diverse population because of this cultural influx.

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.