D Day 75th anniversary Press release

African American GIs Honoured with 75 th Anniversary D Day Plaque
Stop Pess… Stop Press…Stop Press… Stop Press…Stop Press… Stop Press…
In the summer of 1944 one of the most important military campaigns of the
20 th century took place on the French coastline of Normandy. That effort would
ultimately lead to the liberation of Europe, and signal the beginning of the ending of
WWII. The date was June 6 th , also known as D-Day, and while the exploits of the
allied campaign have long been lauded, the role service men and women of African
Heritage played in the allied victory is not often acknowledged.
Whether they were from continental Africa, the Caribbean, or African American
soldiers, it easy to overlook the contribution of these unsung heroes and heroines.
An example of this is over 30,000 WWII African American Service Personnel were
based in Wales as a lead up to D Day. They were based in places as far afield
as Cardiff, Swansea, Barry, Abergavenny, Aberystwyth, Pontypool and
Pembroke. One of the explanations giving for their lack of historical representation is
that the US army was separated along the lines of race at that time, and many of
the American GIs brought with them their home-grown prejudices.
Back in the US, African Americans could not travel in the same railway carriages, drink from
the same water fountains or eat at the same cafes due to segregation and Jim-Crow laws.
However, the American GIs were surprised and disappointed to discover that the people of
Wales were far more welcoming of their African American countrymen than had been
bargained for. In Wales, the Black GIs - the “tan Yanks” as they were affectionately known,
were seen as Americans first.
One such group of African American servicemen were an aircrew based in
Pembrokeshire, South Wales who arrived in the Spring of 1944. Among them were
air and balloon pilots, and non-combat personnel like engineers, supply and
transport staff. Some of their comrades were based not too far away in Pontypool,
and it was this contingent i.e. the unheralded 320th Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon
Battalion that provided the cover and protected allied troops from aerial attack at the
start on 6th June 1944 D Day campaign.
To commemorate the role of these service personnel a special blue plaque will be
installed on the 6 th June 2019 at RAF Carew Cheriton, to commemorate the
75 th anniversary of the D Day Landings. The D Day plaque and ceremony is being
sponsored by Nubian Jak and delivered in partnership with RAF Carew
Cheriton, 160 Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales,and Race Council Cymru (Wales).
Where: RAF Carew Cheriton: Carew Airfield, Carew, Pembrokeshire, SA70 8SX
When: 6 th June 2019, Time: 14:00 - 15:00

NB: Nubian Jak is a registered charity in England and Wales with the no. 1169656. The organisation is
one of only three plaque schemes publically endorsed by English Heritage aka Historic
England - See link under heading "Other Plaque Schemes" Propose a Plaque). Like English
Heritage, we are dependent on donations or sponsorship to deliver our program. If you are
able to help by contributing to this initiative, or future projects please see enclosed our community
account bank details. No contribution too small!
Propose a Plaque
The English Heritage blue plaques scheme relies entirely on
nominations from the public. Find out all about how ...
QUOTES
Bank Name: Barclays Bank
Account Name: Nubian Jak Trust
Account No. 23159841
Account Name: 20 - 45 - 45
Please see comment from the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor Gordon
Goff, Said: “I am proud to have been invited to unveil the 75 th Anniversary D Day
Plaque, we at Pembroke Dock Town Council would like to thank the service
personnel for their contribution whilst being based in Pembrokeshire and would like
to thank the sponsors for supporting and arranging the ceremony.”
CEO of the Nubian Jak Group, Dr Jak Beula, Said: “It is a great honour to be
involved in installing the first diverse Blue Plaque in wales. There could not be a
more date to remember the African American WWII service personnel who resided in
South Wales during WWII, than on the 75 th anniversary of D Day to commemorate
the bravery they displayed on the 6 th June 1944”.
Secretary of RAF Carew Cheriton, Martin Hyde, Said: “The Carew Cheriton
Control Tower Group members feel honoured that the Nubian Jack
Community Plaque is being placed on their building. The Group is presently creating
a memorial stone dedicated to all the G I s of the 110th Infantry Regiment who
served in Pembrokeshire prior to the D Day landings and the allied invasion of
Europe. The two remembrance items will be complementary.”
Chair of RAF Association London and South East, Peter Ramrayka, said: "It gives me
great pleasure to send best wishes to the Nubian Jak Community Trust and all the
participants at the event on D Day 2019 to honour African American service personnel
based in Wales in WW2. Members of our Branch were delighted to be involved in the public
unveiling in 2017 of the War Memorial in Brixton, London honouring African and Caribbean
Service personnel attended by the Secretary of State for Defence, the Mayors of London
and Lambeth amongst others. Again in 2017 we were pleased to attend the unveiling of a
blue plaque honouring Caribbean WW2 hero Flight Lieutenant Cy Grant. The Trust's latest
event continues to widen the knowledge and perpetuates the memory of the contributions
made by black service personnel in both world wars and it is indeed commendable. Lest we
Forget"

Colonel of 160 Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales Jonathan MacGill, Said: “160th Infantry
Brigade and Headquarters Wales, on behalf of the Armed Forces in Wales, is extremely
proud to be able to support this project which recognises the contribution of those African
American Service Personnel who were based throughout Wales and who took part in D
Day. We are pleased to be involved in the outstanding work of organisations such as the
Nubian Jak Community Trust and Race Council Cymru. We hope that through all of our
efforts we will arrive at a “new normal” whereby the incredible contribution and sacrifice of so
many from across the globe, who came to the aid of Great Britain in times of conflict and
need, is properly understood and acknowledged.”
Chief Executive of Race Council Cymru, Mrs Uzo Iwobi OBE, said: “Race
Council Cymru is delighted that the contributions of African American, African and
Caribbean servicemen and women are going to be acknowledged and marked with a
historic D Day Plaque. This is long overdue and will go a long way to honour and
recognise these significant and life changing contributions which ought to be better
acknowledged. This is an exciting time for our Black History communities across
Wales.“
Interviews are available on request. Contact Tracey Francis at: pr@acmemorial.com
Organiser: Nubian Jak Community Trust
Additional Information:
Please contact the Nubian Jak Community Trust team. Tel: 0207 692 4880
Website: www.nubianjak.org, Email: info@nubianjak.org. Follow on Twitter @nubianjak
Nubian Jak Community Trust is a registered charity, governed, administered and managed
by a volunteer Board of Trustees. http://nubianjak.org/
The Nubian Jak Community Trust will be erecting a 7 ft Granite Memorial Statue to
Commonwealth Nurses in October to Commemorate 70 th (71 st ) anniversary of the
formation NHS, arrival of the Windrush, and naming of Whittington Hospital (all in
1948)