From War to Windrush marks the 60th anniversary of the arrival in Britain of the MV Empire Windrush. On the 22 June 1948 the ship docked at Tilbury carrying almost 500 passengers, most of whom were ex-servicemen, from Jamaica.
In 1948 Britain was home to a small population of West Indians. The Windrush's arrival is regarded as an important turning point in Britain's cultural diversification. By 1960 at least 125,000 West Indians had come to Britain. In 2008 one percent of Britain's population is of Caribbean origin.
During the First World War more than 15,000 West Indian men volunteered for Britain's armed forces and over 10,000 men and women signed up during World War II. After the war many moved to Britain despite experiencing racial discrimination in the armed forces. Through photos, music, video footage, audio testimony, official documents and personal memorabilia, the show explores the experiences of Black West Indians on the home front and the frontline during the two World Wars.
The display features several Black West Indians who became well-known personalities including Walter Tull, Allan Wilmot and Aldwyn Roberts, nick-named Lord Kitchener, not to be confused with Earl Herbert Horatio Kitchener!
Walter Tull, a professional footballer, became the first Black British Army Officer. On display is the telegram from King George V expressing his sympathy for Tull's death in April 1918.
Allan Wilmot, served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force during World War II. He came to Britain in 1947and was a founder member of the Southlanders, a singing group famous during the 1960s. Allan Wilmot spoke exclusively to Suite 101 about his arrival and subsequent show business success with the Southlanders.
Aldwyn Roberts, nick-named Lord Kitchener by his friends, arrived on the Windrush. He achieved international success as a calypso performer/composer. Famous titles include London is the Place for Me and Dr. Kitch.
The Windrush's youngest crew member, Peter Dielhenn, told Suite how he was a pastry chef in the ship's kitchens. His wife, May, said when Peter proposed, nearly sixty years ago, she didn't fancy marriage to a sailor who would be away from home for months at a time. Luckily, Peter won his case and they are still together. When asked what she liked most about Peter, May said, "he always smelled of bread".
The exhibition includes pages from the Windrush's passenger list together with photographs of passengers' living conditions immediately after disembarkation. Some lived in an air raid shelter on Clapham Common, in south London. The shelter was barely a mile from the nearest job centre and as the men got jobs and found homes in the area, they helped establish one of London's most diverse multi-racial communities.
From War to Windrush is accompanied by a programme of adult events looking at themes featured in the exhibition. An online exhibition opening on 19 June 2008, Through My Eyes: Stories of Conflict, Belonging and Identity, will include personal stories of people of many different nationalities showing how 20th century conflicts have shaped their sense of identity.
This exhibition includes stories from World War I veterans, Kindertransport children and displaced persons from World War II. The show will tell the stories of Basque evacuees, people affected by the Indian Partition and those affected by the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya. The exhibition will be expanded later in the year to feature experiences of Vietnamese boat people, Bosnian and Kosovon refugees, and survivors of the Rwandan genocide.
From War to Windrush runs until 1 November 2009. For information about the exhibition and associated events check the Imperial War Museum's website.
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