Soldiers of Caribbean descent who served Britain during the First and Second World Wars, among other armed conflicts, are to finally be honoured with their own Memorial Day
Hero soldiers of Caribbean descent who served Britain during WW1, WW2 and other armed conflicts are to finally be honoured with their own special Memorial Day.
Thousands of brave men volunteered to fight for “King and Country”. Many of them came from the Docklands community in south East London. Now Lewisham Council has agreed to honour British West India Regiment Day – which they plan to be on October 26th each year.
And organisers hope this will now be replicated in hundreds of communities across the country. The British West India Regiments Heritage Trust has been leading the campaign. Trust chair Paul Chambers told the Mirror: “This is a pivotal moment for BWIRHT.
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“Lewisham Council has formally passed a historic motion to recognise marking a significant step forward in acknowledging the service and sacrifice of Caribbean soldiers and their lasting contribution to British history.
“This decision represents more than symbolic recognition. For BWIRHT it validates years of advocacy to see these forgotten servicemen formally honoured. For the wider public, it signals a commitment by Lewisham Council to inclusive remembrance, historical justice, and ensuring that Black British military history is properly taught, shared, and respected.
“This motion also strengthens partnerships between community organisations, veterans’ groups, and the council, helping to embed this history in Lewisham’s civic and cultural life for future generations.”
He added: “Migration from the Caribbean to Britain existed before the Windrush era, especially among sailors working in the Deptford and Greenwich dockyards. Lewisham and Deptford were maritime communities, and many Caribbean men settled there.”
He added that this was because the Royal Navy recruited from Jamaica and Barbados, and merchant ships using the Thames employed Caribbean crew. Boarding houses built for seamen in New Cross, Deptford High Street and Lewisham Bridge also housed Black sailors.”
Some of these men enlisted locally when war broke out in 1914. Norman Washington Manley and his brother Douglas Roy Manley both served in the Royal Field Artillery during World War I, enlisting in Deptford.
Douglas died in service and is buried in Belgium. Norman, a Rhodes Scholar who studied law at Oxford, survived and later became one of Jamaica’s greatest statesmen. He championed self-government, founded the People’s National Party, and helped lead Jamaica toward universal suffrage and independence.
Their shared service, sacrifice, and commitment to country remain part of Jamaica’s national memory. BWIRHT is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the proud military heritage of the West Indies.
Through remembrance, education, and advocacy, they celebrate the service and sacrifices made by West Indian soldiers and their descendants, ensuring their stories are never forgotten.
It is an amalgamation of the West India Regiments (WIR 1795-1927 & 1958-1962) and the British West Indies Regiment (BWIR 1915-1921).
