The West Indian Association of Service Personnel (WASP) is looking to raise £100,000 to erect a statue in Windrush Square, Brixton in memory of African and Caribbean soldiers.
Vince McBean, chairman of WASP, has condemned the lack of recognition for black soldiers.
McBean told the Voice that the lack of recognition for soldiers from the West Indies and Africa who fought for Britain was “inadequate and not acceptable”.
He said that one veteran pointed out that even the dogs had been recognised.
The Voice reported that Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, the Jamaican High Comissioner, supports the campaign.
In a letter supporting the campaign she said: “The Jamaican High Commission is pleased to support the initiative of the West Indian Association of Service Personnel to erect a statue to be a monument to the bravery and sacrifice of servicemen and women from the Caribbean who answered the call of the Motherland.”
In the first world war over 16,000 West Indians fought for Britain in The British West Indian Regiment.
The regiment was part of the armed forces for Britain until it was disbanded in 1927.
During the second world war 5,500 West Indians went to Britain as part of the West Indian RAF.
West Indian women during the second world war served in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) and the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS).
