Memorial’s logbook boost: Notebook a part of history for campaign

The logbook was owned by Cyril Devaux, a St Lucian pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and is being loaned to The National Caribbean Monument Charity (TNCMC) by Mr Devaux's son Nicholas.,

Donald Campbell, chairman of TNCMC, said Nicholas was currently in the process of getting the book signed by service personnel, sending letters of request across the world.

Mr Campbell said Nicholas had sent him a page from the book, which he was now working to get signed by Caribbean ex-servicemen living in the United Kingdom.

He said: "I have been looking to meet five veterans who live across the country and who were approached by Nicholas to get their signatures.

"I recently travelled over to Nottingham to meet one of the veterans, Tony Daley, who was delighted to meet a fellow serviceman and was happy to sign the paper."

The 69-year-old, who served in the Royal Air Force as an aircraft engineer and retiring as a warrant officer after 36 years of service, said the notebook was due to arrive with him at the end of August.

He said it would act as an educational tool to young people across the region to teach them about those people serving in wars across the generations.

He said: "The notebook will travel around with me as I get more veterans to sign it, with a possible signing session at the National Memorial Arboretum where we all come together.

"It will be a way to show the sacrifices made by those who served in the two world wars and other conflicts to the younger generation to help them learn more about their history."

Mr Campbell also said the notebook was the latest chapter in the campaign to get a permanent monument to Caribbean military personnel erected at the arboretum.

The monument campaign needs to raise £460,000 by January 2021 to begin the sculpting process and is asking for 460,000 people to donate £1 to the appeal.

To find out more and to donate to the appeal, go to tncmc.org