The Walker Brothers: 3 Black Soldiers in WW1
Over the last year, I've learned a lot about my Granddad Milton Walker and his contribution in World War One. Up until recently, all I had were some fond yet vague memories of my grandfather flinging me up in the air as a baby. I'd also heard some stories about him getting injured in the war. But that was about it.
This is Granddad on the left in his military uniform in 1915 - a photo that has only recently come into the family's possession. The photo on the right shows him some years later in his customs officer uniform when he returned to Guyana after the war.
The story starts in the mid 1800s and jumps from Barbados to British Guiana. It crosses 3 continents and tells how 3 brave brothers - Milton, Clarence and Leonard went off to fight in World War One, what happened after and how a long lost secret remained hidden for almost 100 years ... and how another part of the story still remains incomplete even today.
The 3 served as part of the British West Indies Regiment and fought alongside British troops and other allied forces. The brothers likely spent time training in Seaford Sussex before deployment in Egypt and Palestine.
Although many BWIR forces were not directly involved in contact with the enemy, some were. For example, after months of build up and preparation in which troops of the BWIR played an important part, the third battle of Gaza began on the night of 1st / 2nd November 1917 with a British assault on the Turkish positions.
There was fierce fighting over several days but by 7th November, the Turkish troops had abandoned their positions and started to retreat.
Here's Granddad Milton's letter he received from King George.
And this is me and my two brothers Ray and Steve today. We're very proud of our Granddad and our Great Uncles. We have a lot to thank them for.
As Remembrance Day approaches this weekend, we'll be thinking of these brave soldiers and other service people past and present. We thank you for your service.
Maria Downer (our mum) has retold the story of our Granddad and his brothers in a book - The Walker Brothers and Their Legacy.
There's a chance to meet mum and find out more about her brave dad and uncles at a Meet the Author event on Tuesday 21st Nov from 6:15pm to 8:30pm at The Guyana High Commission, 3 Palace Ct. Bayswater London W24LP.
A big thank you to David Gleave and his team for doing such an amazing job helping mum research our family history and uncover the story of these three brothers in arms.
Leave a comment if there's someone past or present in the armed services you'll be thinking of this week.
#RemembranceDay #Veterans #BlackPoppeyRose
Retired
6 年I too have the same medals from my grandfather, plus the 14-15 star. Without Imperial troops, Canadians and the 3 million strong volunteer Indian Army, the economic grouping that was the British Empire could not have militarily contested both World Wars. My grandfather survived in one piece, a shrapnel nick on his left arm and a "whiff" of gas. They released poison gas to blow slowly towards the German trenches - and the wind changed!
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6 年Thanks Michael. Granddad and his brothers were born in Barbados and then moved to former British Guiana. You're quite right though. Men from all over the Caribbean contributed to the war effort as part of the British West Indies Regiment.
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6 年Hi Brain, Thanks for sharing the personal story of your grand dad during the great war. The West Indies did its part in the war effort. Thousands of men from Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, British Guiana, British Honduras and Grenada.
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6 年Excellent and highly interesting Brian. Thank you for sharing and your mother for pulling together 'their' story. BTW. my father is Guyanese... my grandfather on my mother's side had brothers who fought and were lost in action in WW1....
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6 年Very grateful to have visited Uncle Leonard's final resting place in France earlier this year. #ForeverInTheirDebt