Pervasive Racism Meant Black And Asian WWI Troops Were Not Commemorated
An apology has been made after an investigation found that those individuals were not formally remembered in the same way as their white comrades.
“Pervasive racism” underpinned a failure to properly commemorate potentially hundreds of thousands of predominantly Black and Asian service personnel who died fighting for the British Empire, an investigation has found.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) apologised after its investigation found those individuals were not formally remembered in the same way as their white comrades.
Defence secretary Ben Wallace on Thursday morning told the Commons: “The number of casualties commemorated unequally, the number commemorated without names and the number otherwise entirely unaccounted for is not excusable.” He accepted that “prejudice” had played a part.
Boris Johnson has said he is “deeply troubled” by failures to properly commemorate potentially hundreds of thousands of black and Asian service personnel who died fighting for the British Empire.
The Prime Minister offered “an unreserved apology” on Friday after an investigation found the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) did not formally remember the individuals in the same way as their white comrades.
After the finding that “pervasive racism” underpinned the failings, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs he accepted there “can be no doubt prejudice” had played a role.
The CWGC also issued an apology, saying the actions were “wrong then and are wrong now”, and that officials would be “acting immediately to correct them”.
Pervasive racism caused failure to commemorate Black and Asian troops, report finds independent.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from independent.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Boris Johnson has said he is “deeply troubled” by failures to properly commemorate potentially hundreds of thousands of black and Asian service personnel who died fighting for the British Empire.
The Prime Minister offered “an unreserved apology” on Friday after an investigation found the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) did not formally remember the individuals in the same way as their white comrades.
After the finding that “pervasive racism” underpinned the failings, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told MPs he accepted there “can be no doubt prejudice” had played a role.
The CWGC also issued an apology, saying the actions were “wrong then and are wrong now”, and that officials would be “acting immediately to correct them”.