Ground broken as new Caribbean war memorial comes a step closer
The next steps towards a permanent memorial to Caribbean servicemen and women have been taken at the nation's place of remembrance.
More than 50 people attended a ground-breaking ceremony for the National Caribbean Monument at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire.
Armed Forces personnel, veterans, their families and descendants were joined by Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street and representatives from the High Commission for Barbados.
It marks the latest step in a process that began in 2019 when the National Caribbean Monument Charity commissioned a 10 per cent scale model of the monument and began fundraising to cover the £500,000 cost of the full design.
Since then, a site has been picked out at the National Memorial Arboretum, with the land blessed with sand from Ayr in Scotland after a walk by two ex-servicemen.
The fundraising effort for the monument has continued, with a JustGiving page opened to raise £10,000 towards the monument.
Winston White, chair of the National Caribbean Monument Charity spoke about the significance of the ground-breaking and what he hoped the monument would achieve.
He said: “Today is a momentous day as we get one step closer to installing a memorial in recognition of the service and sacrifices made by Caribbean men and women in the British Armed Forces.
“Thousands of people journeyed across the ocean from the Caribbean to support the UK during both world wars, serving valiantly alongside personnel from Britain and across the Commonwealth, supporting this country in its hour of greatest need.
"Today, Caribbean personnel continue to make a significant contribution to the British Armed Forces and our aim is for the memorial to instil a lasting cultural and educational legacy for present and future generations, ensuring that these inspirational stories are preserved forever more.”
Sponsored by The National Caribbean Monument Charity, the new memorial will commemorate the service of Armed Forces personnel from the Caribbean when it is installed and dedicated at the 150-acre garden and woodland site.
It will sit alongside the National Memorial Arboretum's more than 400 existing memorials dedicated to those who have served in the Armed Forces, emergency services and community voluntary groups.
The Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “The National Caribbean Monument is a fitting tribute to the thousands of men and women from the Caribbean who served in the British Armed Forces during both World Wars, subsequent conflicts and indeed those that continue to serve as personnel around the world today.
“Once complete, this imposing sculpture will be a fantastic addition to the National Memorial Arboretum, our nation’s year-round remembrance space where we preserve for future generations these important stories of heroism.
"The National Caribbean Monument will take its place alongside over 400 other memorials to those who have served our country.”
“We will forever be grateful for the unyielding efforts they made to protect the freedoms that we hold dear.
"This poignant and permanent memorial to their service and sacrifice will ensure we never neglect nor forget their contribution.
"As mayor of such a wonderfully diverse region, blessed with a substantial Caribbean diaspora population, I was keen to support this initiative so I’m delighted to see this project come to fruition.”
To make a donation towards the funding of the monument, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/wayne-howell-2020
