Unveiling the African and Caribbean Memorial

War memorials are an important part of modern British society.  But they are also often selective, focussing our attention on certain things while omitting others. Among those omissions are the more than two million African and Caribbean servicemen and women that fought in the First and Second World Wars.

Today people came together in Brixton’s Windrush Square to mark a major milestone in correcting that: the inauguration of The African and Caribbean Memorial (AC Memorial), a permanent reminder of that enormous contribution. It is the only memorial of its kind in Europe.  Here are some photographs from across the day.

Two performers from Gahu Dramatic Arts group await the start of the ceremony

An elderly couple with the Barbados flag

Military Police and performers wait on a side street for the start of the ceremony

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon (R) joins others for the unveiling of the memorial

The covers come off

Young people wait to lay wreaths, each left in the name of one of the Commonwealth nations

Matt Houston, The People’s Standard

People watch as tributes are laid at the base of the memorial

A flag bearer walks past the memorial at the end of the ceremony

People pay their respects

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