Remembering the fallen: New book marks Commonwealth’s contribution to WWII

A new schoolbook commemorating the contribution of Commonwealth peoples to World War II, including some 2.5 million Indians who volunteered for active service, was unveiled at a ceremony attended by veterans last week.

The schoolbook, published by the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, reveals personal stories of Commonwealth servicemen and women who put themselves forward for duty between 1939 and 1945.

James Wright, Canadian High Commissioner, speaking at the launch at Canada House in London, UK, on 5 November 2009, described the text as a tale of “the ordinary men and women of the Commonwealth who did extraordinary things to protect our freedom and to build a safer world”.

‘Important the younger generation are aware’

Ninety-year-old Cy Grant, who moved from British Guiana to serve as an officer in the UK’s Royal Air Force in 1943 and is featured in the book, said he hoped that school children from the Caribbean would learn of the contribution of the many thousands from the region who fought in WWII.

“In the schools’ curriculum up until now nobody has recognised the fact that there were so many people from the Caribbean that actually took part in the war,” explained the nonagenarian, who was shot down over Holland and held as a prisoner of war.

“It is important that the younger generation are aware of our contribution,” he said.

Grenada-born Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry, who won the UK’s Victoria Cross medal for bravery for his service with the British Army in 2005, and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and Grand President of the League, both attended the launch.

Magazine-style format

Titled ‘Under One Flag’, the book is divided into chapters covering Australia and New Zealand, India and the Far East, Africa, the West Indies and Canada.

Author Erica Myers-Davis said she had been “overwhelmed” by the positive responses from black and ethnic minority people in the UK who have already seen previews of the text.

“It has been an amazing journey – the research that I’ve done, the people that I’ve met, and the stories that I’ve found,” she said, adding that the League plans to distribute the book around the Commonwealth.

Ms Myers-Davis continued: “Both young and old can easily understand the book, it’s in a magazine-style format, it’s really simple to pick up - open just one page and you’ll learn something.”

Royalties from the sale and distribution of the book will go to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League, which provides financial assistance for former military personnel across the Commonwealth. Last year the organisation helped a total of 17,061 men and women.

Related Websites:

• Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League