Veterans Reflections

The veterans joined the armed forces for many reasons, often to travel and to learn a trade or profession. While there were often challenges while serving and in civilian life, there were rarely any regrets about signing up. They shared many of their adventures with us, from trekking through the jungle in Borneo to surviving extreme weather and landmines in the Falklands to running from bombs in Guildford.

We learnt about the camaraderie and how essential it is for people’s survival – ‘a weird thing, a bit like falling in love!’

“You wouldn’t even think twice to take a bullet for somebody. You would do it without thinking, because you know they would do it for you.” Mr. Errol Clarke, ex-RAF

Although the feeling of camaraderie was universal through all conflicts, the motivations of recent conflicts seemed more ambiguous compared to World War II which brought people together, regardless of faith and ethnic background, against a common enemy.

‘So it was two (black soldiers) in a station of about 10,000 people.’ Veterans shared experiences specific to being of Caribbean or African heritage. Vince McBean, chair of the West Indian Ex-Servicemen and Women Association described a range of issues, from veterans being rejected by their own communities to avoiding racially motivated bullying and violence. Career progression was hampered – ‘an uphill struggle and a slippery slope … we didn’t get very far regardless of our qualifications’. This sentiment was echoed by others.

Civilian life also proved tough for some veterans. Homelessness, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and financial insecurity have been difficult to overcome.

Finally, there was a strong belief that many black people’s contributions remain hidden – ‘on this Remembrance Sunday, you didn’t see a black face at all’. From World War II veteran, Norma Leacock, whose father served in Egypt in World War I, to Steeve Muteedzi, serving in Bosnia and Iraq, now some of these stories are being told.