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Visiting the Governor General
MEMBERS of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch were welcomed to visit Governor General Cornelius A Smith. The visit served to help highlight the ongoing work of the organisation to help the veterans and widows of veterans in The Bahamas. The event also saw a number of descendants of Bahamian veterans in attendance. Those attending included senior executive committee members Mrs Adina Munroe-Charlow (Chairman/Treasurer/Welfare Officer); Father Rev Andrew Toppin (1st Vice Chairman/1st Asst. Treasurer/Chaplain); Ms Christine Humes (Chief Volunteer Officer). Also present were standing committee members Mr Frankyln Brown (Son of a WWII Veteran-Standing Committee); Mr Darrol Hall (Grandson of a WWII Veteran-Standing Committee); Mr Marvin Pinder (Grandson of a WWII Veteran-Standing Committee); Mr Charlie Hepburn (Great-Grandson of a WWI Veteran and Grandson of a WWII Veteran). Others in attendance included Donna Hepburn (Mother of Charlie Hepburn), and Willis Charlow (Husband of Adina Charlow). The event followed full COVID-19 protocols, with all attendees having their fully COVID-19 vaccinated cards with them.
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100 years
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of the Royal British Legion
THIS year, 2021, the British Legion-Bahamas branch, along with its Commonwealth group of British Legion branches, celebrates, along with our international headquarters, the Royal British Legion (London), 100 years of existence as a non-profit organisation serving all World War II veterans throughout the United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Africa, Australia, and the Carribean. It was on May 15, 1921, that the Royal British :egion (London) was incorporated as a non-profit organisation by four veteran associations, established three years after the Great War ended in 1918. The main objectives of the royal british legion upon, its incorporation were: (1) To financially provide for all those who were wounded during the Great War, (2) To provide companionship to all those soliders who had no families and homes to go to after the Great War, and finally (3) To remember all those who lost their lives during the Great War. Today, the British Legion-Bahamas branch, along with its Commonwealth WWII associates, continues the
main objectives of our headquarters RBL (London) in provison of financial monthly war grants to our now five Bahamian registered World War II veterans (ages 93-98) and 18 World War II widows of the fallen, whose ages range from 68-96. Names of current WWII veterans registered with the British Legion-Bahamas branch include: (1) Comrade Jeremiah Neymour (98), Gregory Town, Eleuthera, Bahamas (RAF) (2) Comrade Nathanial Wallace (95), Nicholls Town, Andros, Bahamas (B.B.) (3) Comrade Henry Kellman (93), Freeport, Grand Bahama, Nahamas (RAF) (4) Comrade Vernon Pinder (96), New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas (RAF) (5) Comrade Leonard Knowles (95), New Providenece, Nassau, Bahamas (RAF), and finally; Registered with the British Legion-Jamaica branch: (6) Our remaining Bahamian female WWII veteran, Corporal Doreen Carmel Jones-Rickards (97), who served in the auxiliary territorial service (A.T.S.) during World War II and currently resides with her daughter in Kingston, Jamaica.
100 Years of the existence of the poppy This year also marks the 100th birithday of the poppy. It was 100 years ago, the Royal British Legion’s then president, the late Earl Haig, announced the introduction of the poppy as a symbol representing the blood shed by thousands of soliders (including Bahamians) who died during the Great War 1914-1918. He announced that on the 11th day of every november going forward, armistic day would be known as “remembrance day” - a “poppy day” to raise funds for the care of surviving war veterans. During that first remembrance day, 100 years ago, in 1921, eight million poppies were purchased and worn in surpport of this worthy cause. Today, we encourage our Bahamas to purchase and wear a poppy in remembrance of the sacrifice that was made for world peace and freedom a very important historial role that was played by our forgotten bahamian war heroes. The Bahamas branch of the British Legion continues the poppy fundraising drive tradition, in a pandemic, to care for our surviving elderly Bahamian war veterans and widows here on the island of New Providence as well as those residing on the islands of Freeport, Grand Bahama, Nicholls’ Town, Andros, and Gregory Town,
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Church service honours our veteran soldiers A CHURCH service was held at Christ Church Cathedral on Sunday, November 7, to pay tribute to Bahamian veterans. Among those at the service were members of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch Executive Commiteee, below. The service coincides with the annual Remembrance Day events and honours those who have served in wartime. The British Legion continues to work on behalf of those veterans who are still alive to ensure they receive the benefits they are due.
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HISTORY, ROLE, AND PURPOSE OF THE BRITISH LEGION-BAHAMAS BRANCH WHEN WAS THE BRITISH LEGION INTERNATIONAL AND BRITISH LEGIONBAHAMAS BRANCH FORMED?
CEPHAS Ferguson pictured laying a wreath in 2018 as then chairman of the British Legion, Bahamas Branch.
British Legion-International Headquarters was formed in 1921, two years after World War I at a Representative WW I Conference held in London, England. At that Conference, it became an official Non-profit International Organisation of Ex-Servicemen throughout The British Empire. British Legion-Bahamas Branch (BLBB) – Formerly known as The Bahamas ExServicemen Association, it was formed by Bahamian WWII Ex-Servicemen and Ex-Servicewomen after World War II in 1945 to “preserve” their war experiences and legacies for future Bahamian generations. The British Legion-Bahamas Branch, is an official Non-Profit Organisation registered under the NonProfit Organisations Act, 2019 of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas, with its Headquarters located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was in 1966, when The Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) accepted the administrative responsibility from its Worldwide Headquarters, British Legion International in London, to provide and to distribute financial assistance grants to all World War II Veterans and Widows of 15 Caribbean Member State Branches, including The Bahamas. The main role and purpose of The British Legion-Bahamas Branch is to ensure that its
“registered” Ex-Servicemen, Ex-Servicewomen, and Widows of deceased WWII Veterans receive, on a monthly basis, small War Grants provided by both its Canadian Headquarters and The Government of The Bahamas. Our Registered Members are verified annually in order to continue to receive their international and local War Grants.
ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP & MONTHLY WAR GRANT In order to become “eligible” to receive a monthly War Grant, one must be in financial need and would have served in World War II between 1939-1945 or one must provide proof of being the Widow of an ExServiceman who had served in World War II and who could also be further verified by the British Legion International and The Bahamas Branch as serving in that War.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE This Committee is the local Governing Body of this Military NonProfit Organisation. It comprises positions of a Chairman/Treasurer, Vice Chairman, Executive Secretary, 1st Assistant Secretary, 1st Assistant Treasurer, Chaplain, Assistant Chaplain, and a Uniform Branch Representative.
DONATION APPEAL Support your local British Legion-Bahamas Branch today. Email address: britlegionbahamas@ymail.com. Telephone us at: 242-4221047 or 242-676-4066.
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WREATHS laid by the British Legion-Bahamas Branch Executive Committee, along with Chairman Adina Munroe-Charlow, paying respects to all fallen Bahamian WWI and WWII Soldiers buried in the Bahamas Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The British Legion was joined by The Bahamas Boys Brigade for this private wreath-laying ceremony.
The war that cost so many lives WHY DID WWII START? GERMANY was ruled by its leader Adolf Hitler and his political party, known as “The Nazis,” since 1933. Hitler wanted to take revenge on the entire World due to Germany’s defeat in the Great War (WWI), which ended in 1918.
He wanted to expand the Germany Empire. In 1938, the Nazis invaded Austria AND on 15th March, 1939, they invaded Czechoslovakia.
WHEN DID WWII START? On 1st September, 1939, the official start of WWII
occurred, when Germany invaded Poland. Germany was asked to remove its troops from Poland by Britain and Hitler refused to do. On 3rd September, 1939, at 11.15am, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain announced that Britain and France were at War with Germany. World War II was fought between two (2) Alliances (Groups of Countries):
Group I – The Axis Powers – German, Italy, and Japan Group II - The AlliesFrance, China, The United Kingdom (with its Commonwealth members: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) and the United States. Third Group - Neutral Countries - Countries who did not participate in the War were: Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Ireland.
TIME FRAME OF WWII The war lasted for six years. Source of the above information: www.simonhaughton.co.uk Website: British History Encyclopedia by Simon Haughton.
HOW AND WHEN DID WORLD WAR II END? World War II end during the year of 1945. The War ended in two (2) phases as
follows: Phase one: The war ended on the western side of the world in may, 1945:• Adolf Hitler committed suicide on 30th April, 1945; • Germany unconditionally surrendered on 8th May, 1945 to Britain and the United States; • Germany unconditionally surrendered on 9th May, 1945 to Russia. Phase two: The war ended on the eastern side of the world in september, 1945: • 6th August, 1945 – The United States dropped its 1st Atomic Bomb on Hiroshima, Japan; • 9th August, 1945 – The United States dropped its 2nd Atomic Bomb on Nagasaki, japan; and finally; • 15th August, 1945Japan unconditionally surrendered to its Western Allies due to the devastation caused by the dropping of both atomic bombs.
WHEN DID THE WAR OFFICIALLY END?
• On 2nd September, 1945- The war officially came to an end with the signing of a Peace Treaty between Japan and its Western Allies. The name of the Treaty was known as ‘the instrucment of surrender.” • With both the Western and Eastern sides of the World signing their Peace Treaties, World War II officially came to an end.
WHAT WERE THE WORLDWIDE CASUALTIES OF WORLD WAR II?
• An estimated 80 million people died most of them civilians and approximately 55 million of them were soldiers of both the Eastern and Western sides of the World. Source of Reference for the above information: Neiberg, Micahel “Potsdam: The End of WWII and “Remaking of Europe.”: Perseus Book, 2015.
WEST INDIES/CARIBBEAN CONTRIBUTION TO WORLD WAR II HOW MANY CARIBBEAN/ WEST INDIES VOLUNTEERS JOIN WWII? • Approximately 16,000 West Indians/ Caribbean people joined the War. • 100 women joined the War: 80 women joined the WAAF(Women’s Auxiliary Air Force); 30 women joined the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service). Eleven of our Bahamian Women joined this group. They were known as “THE BRAVE ELEVEN.” They were: 1. Vernell Armbrister nee Albury(Deceased) 2. Dorothy Cooper nee Fullerton(Deceased) 3. Zoe Cumberbatch nee Lady Maynard(Deceased) 4. Pearl Grant(Deceased) 5. Vera Johnson(Deceased) 6. Doreen Jones nee Rickards(96) – currently lives in Kingston, Jamaica 7. Dorothy Roberts nee Wisdom (Deceased) 8. Shirley Wright (Deceased) 9. Sybil Lightbourne nee Ford (Deceased) 10. Grace Knowles nee Fountain (Deceased) 11. Ruth Clarke nee Goodridge (Deceased)
Source of Reference for above Information: THE BRAVE ELEVEN: Written By: Ruth Clarke-Goodridge: 1988 • Six thousand (6,000) West Indian/ Caribbean Volunteers joined The British Royal Air Force (RAF) and The Royal Canadian Air Force. • Their roles ranged from fighter pilots, air gunners, ground staff and administrators.
WHAT WERE THE CASUALTIES OF WEST INDIAN/ CARIBBEAN VOLUNTEERS AFTER WORLD WAR II? • Out of 16,000 West Indian/Caribbean Volunteers: • 236 West Indian/Caribbean Volunteers were killed in the War or went missing; • 265 West Indian/Caribbean Volunteers were wounded; AND • 103 West Indian/Caribbean Volunteers were recognized and decorated for their bravery. Source of Reference for the above information: Memorial Trust (19141918 and 1039-1945) – www.mgtrust.org/ car2htm
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Paying respects to those who serve today EXECUTIVE members of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch (BLBB) paid a courtesy call on the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King on November 10, 2020, at Defence Headquarters, John F Kennedy Drive. Led by Chairman Adina Munroe and her Executive Officers, the BLBB team used the opportunity to pin a poppy on the uniform of Commodore King,
who in return presented her with a financial donation to assist with the work of the organisation. Also, in attendance was Commander Natasha Miller, RBDF Liaison Officer for the BLBB. Commodore King thanked the executive team and commended them for their outstanding roles in keeping the memories of the fallen soldiers. The poppy represents the sacrifice made by the
fallen and has become a lasting memorial symbol to those who died in World Wars I and II. Poppies are worn on the left of one’s attire, close to the heart. As the current COVID pandemic affects the country, many activities by the British Legion-Bahamas Branch have been postponed this year.
CHAIRMAN of the British Legion-Bahamas Branch, Adina Munroe pins a poppy on the attire of the Commander Defence Force, Commodore Raymond King. Photo: Woman Marine Myiesha Gibson/RBDF
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A CEREMONY TO REMEMBER
THE BRITISH Legion-Bahamas Branch Executive Committee, along with Chairman Adina Munroe-Charlow, paying respects to all fallen Bahamian WWI and WWII Soldiers buried in the Bahamas Veterans Cemetery on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The British Legion was joined by The Bahamas Boys Brigade for this private wreath-laying ceremony.