some experiences of an african air-raid warden - West End at War
some experiences of an african air-raid warden - West End at War
some experiences of an african air-raid warden - West End at War
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<strong>West</strong> <strong>End</strong> <strong>at</strong> <strong>War</strong><br />
Disunity in the Empire<br />
Ita Ekpenyon expressed his loyalty to Britain<br />
through volunteering “it made me able to do<br />
my share for the British Commonwealth <strong>of</strong><br />
N<strong>at</strong>ions to which I belong”. M<strong>an</strong>y other nonwhite<br />
peoples from across the Empire shared<br />
this sense <strong>of</strong> loyalty <strong>an</strong>d desire to contribute to<br />
the wartime struggle - but they were commonly<br />
frustr<strong>at</strong>ed <strong>an</strong>d rebuffed by a widespread colour<br />
bar.<br />
In WWI a colour bar had existed denying the<br />
gr<strong>an</strong>ting <strong>of</strong> commissions to people <strong>of</strong> non-Europe<strong>an</strong><br />
descent. Although this had been removed by<br />
WWII, it was still in practice very difficult for non<br />
white servicem<strong>an</strong> to gain recognition. The exception<br />
to this rule was the RAF who took in a signific<strong>an</strong>t<br />
number <strong>of</strong> Black recruits from the <strong>West</strong> Indies.<br />
Task<br />
Together poster<br />
Imperial <strong>War</strong> Museum<br />
Working in p<strong>air</strong>s look for a map <strong>of</strong> the British<br />
Commonwealth using the Google search engine. Write a<br />
list <strong>of</strong> the countries th<strong>at</strong> you find.<br />
Imagine you are <strong>some</strong>one from the British<br />
Commonwealth who is seeing the “Together” poster for<br />
the first time. With your partner discuss the following<br />
questions.<br />
• Would you feel inspired to join the army <strong>an</strong>d support<br />
the war effort?<br />
• Read the passage on the right by Ita Ekpenyon<br />
• Do you think it troubled him to see disunity in his<br />
shelter?<br />
• Design your own WWII ARP poster targetting people<br />
from the British Empire who you w<strong>an</strong>t to inspire to<br />
volunteer as Air Raid <strong>War</strong>dens. Aim to cre<strong>at</strong>e a feeling<br />
<strong>of</strong> togetherness <strong>an</strong>d cooper<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
English/History/Citizenship/Art & Design/ICT/Geography<br />
44<br />
“Some <strong>of</strong> the shelterers told others<br />
to go back to their own countries,<br />
<strong>an</strong>d <strong>some</strong> tried to practice<br />
segreg<strong>at</strong>ion…So I told the people<br />
th<strong>at</strong> the British Empire, which<br />
is also known as the British<br />
Commonwealth <strong>of</strong> N<strong>at</strong>ions, is<br />
made up <strong>of</strong> peoples <strong>of</strong> m<strong>an</strong>y races.<br />
I said th<strong>at</strong> though I am <strong>an</strong> <strong>air</strong>-<strong>raid</strong><br />
<strong>warden</strong> in London, I am still <strong>an</strong><br />
Afric<strong>an</strong>. I also said th<strong>at</strong> I am one<br />
<strong>of</strong> m<strong>an</strong>y people <strong>of</strong> other countries<br />
th<strong>at</strong> make up the Empire…I said<br />
th<strong>at</strong> this being the case I would<br />
like to see a spirit <strong>of</strong> friendliness,<br />
co-oper<strong>at</strong>ion, <strong>an</strong>d comradeship<br />
prevail <strong>at</strong> this very trying time in<br />
the history <strong>of</strong> the Empire…”
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