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Government apologises over failure to commemorate black and Asian troops Government apologises over failure to commemorate black and Asian troops
(32 minutes later)
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace apologises: "There can be no doubt prejudice played a part in some of the commission's decisions"
The government has apologised for failures to properly commemorate black and Asian troops who died in World War One fighting for the British Empire.The government has apologised for failures to properly commemorate black and Asian troops who died in World War One fighting for the British Empire.
A report by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission found it was due to "pervasive racism".
Some troops were commemorated collectively or their names were recorded in registers, while their white counterparts had headstones.Some troops were commemorated collectively or their names were recorded in registers, while their white counterparts had headstones.
A report by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission found the reason for this was "pervasive racism".
In the Commons, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace expressed "deep regret".In the Commons, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace expressed "deep regret".
He told MPs there was "no doubt" prejudice had played a part in what happened after World War One.He told MPs there was "no doubt" prejudice had played a part in what happened after World War One.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has also apologised over its findings.The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has also apologised over its findings.
Labour MP David Lammy, who was critical to bringing the matter to light, called it a "watershed moment".Labour MP David Lammy, who was critical to bringing the matter to light, called it a "watershed moment".
Mr Wallace said: "On behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the government both of the time and today, I want to apologise for the failures to live up to their founding principles all those years ago and express deep regret that it has taken so long to rectify the situation.
"Whilst we can't change the past, we can make amends and take action," he said.
The African soldiers dragged into Europe's warThe African soldiers dragged into Europe's war
Marking the memories of a million service personnelMarking the memories of a million service personnel
Mr Wallace said: "On behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and the government both of the time and today, I want to apologise for the failures to live up to their founding principles all those years ago and express deep regret that it has taken so long to rectify the situation.
"Whilst we can't change the past, we can make amends and take action," he said.
He said there were cases where the commission "deliberately overlooked evidence" that would have allowed it to find the names of the dead.
And he said there were examples of officials employing an "overarching imperial ideology connected to racial and religious differences" in order to "divide the dead and treat them unequally in ways that were impossible in Europe".
Outlining the next steps, Mr Wallace said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will:Outlining the next steps, Mr Wallace said the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will:
search in the historical record for inequalities in commemoration and act on what is foundsearch in the historical record for inequalities in commemoration and act on what is found
renew its commitment to equality in commemoration by building physical or digital commemorative structuresrenew its commitment to equality in commemoration by building physical or digital commemorative structures
use its online presence and wider education activities to reach out to all the communities of the former British Empire touched by the two world wars to make sure their hidden history is brought to lifeuse its online presence and wider education activities to reach out to all the communities of the former British Empire touched by the two world wars to make sure their hidden history is brought to life
and, over the next six months, assemble a global and diverse community of experts to help make this happenand, over the next six months, assemble a global and diverse community of experts to help make this happen
An inquiry was set up following a 2019 Channel 4 documentary presented by Mr Lammy, Unremembered. Mr Wallace also announced a public consultation over plans to waive the visa fee for service personnel from the Commonwealth and Nepal who choose to settle in the UK in order to honour their contribution.
An inquiry by the commission was set up following a 2019 Channel 4 documentary presented by Mr Lammy, Unremembered.
It found that at least 116,000 casualties from World War One, most of whom were of African, Indian or Egyptian origin, "were not commemorated by name or possibly not commemorated at all".It found that at least 116,000 casualties from World War One, most of whom were of African, Indian or Egyptian origin, "were not commemorated by name or possibly not commemorated at all".
But that figure could be as high as 350,000, according to the commission's report first seen by the Guardian. But that figure could be as high as 350,000, according to the commission's report.
It also cited racist comments such as the governor of a British colony saying in 1923 that: "The average native... would not understand or appreciate a headstone."It also cited racist comments such as the governor of a British colony saying in 1923 that: "The average native... would not understand or appreciate a headstone."
In an interview with the BBC, shadow justice secretary Mr Lammy said that while making the documentary in Kenya and Tanzania, he discovered mass graves in which Africans had been "dumped with no commemoration whatsoever".In an interview with the BBC, shadow justice secretary Mr Lammy said that while making the documentary in Kenya and Tanzania, he discovered mass graves in which Africans had been "dumped with no commemoration whatsoever".
He said it was a travesty that men who served the British Empire were not commemorated properly, but welcomed the report.He said it was a travesty that men who served the British Empire were not commemorated properly, but welcomed the report.
"I'm just really, really pleased that the dignity that these men deserved - who were dragged from their villages and commandeered to work for the British Empire - that dignity that they deserve in death can be granted to them," he said."I'm just really, really pleased that the dignity that these men deserved - who were dragged from their villages and commandeered to work for the British Empire - that dignity that they deserve in death can be granted to them," he said.
Mr Lammy added that work must be done to find their names in archives where that is possible, and to establish how local communities would like them to be commemorated.Mr Lammy added that work must be done to find their names in archives where that is possible, and to establish how local communities would like them to be commemorated.
Historian David Olusoga: "It's another organisation that's had to be dragged into admitting its history."Historian David Olusoga: "It's another organisation that's had to be dragged into admitting its history."
Historian Prof David Olusoga, whose television company produced Unremembered, said the commission knew about the issues and had to be "dragged into admitting its history". Historian Prof David Olusoga, whose television company produced Unremembered, told BBC Breakfast that apologies weren't enough and resources would need to be committed if the commission was serious about restorative justice.
He told BBC Breakfast that apologies weren't enough and resources would need to be committed if the commission was serious about restorative justice. "If the Commonwealth War Graves Commission had set up a committee and discovered that 100,000 white British soldiers lay in mass graves - unmarked, uncommemorated - and the documentation proved that that had been deliberate, what would they do?" he said.
"If the Commonwealth War Graves Commission had set up a committee and discovered that 100,000 white British soldiers lay in mass graves -unmarked, uncommemorated - and the documentation proved that that had been deliberate, what would they do?" he said.
"They deserve equal treatment, and they deserve equal treatment now," he added.
Six million soldiers from the British Empire served in World War One.Six million soldiers from the British Empire served in World War One.
Between 45,000 and 54,000 Asian and African personnel who died in the conflict were "commemorated unequally", the commission said.Between 45,000 and 54,000 Asian and African personnel who died in the conflict were "commemorated unequally", the commission said.
India sent the most soldiers to fight for Britain during the warIndia sent the most soldiers to fight for Britain during the war
What was the role of British Empire soldiers in WW1?What was the role of British Empire soldiers in WW1?
World War One was the first truly global war, fought not just in the trenches of France but in the Middle East, Asia and AfricaWorld War One was the first truly global war, fought not just in the trenches of France but in the Middle East, Asia and Africa
Britain's colonies sent millions of men to fight for the empire during the conflictBritain's colonies sent millions of men to fight for the empire during the conflict
India, which at that time included Pakistan and Bangladesh, sent the most soldiers - more than 1.4 millionIndia, which at that time included Pakistan and Bangladesh, sent the most soldiers - more than 1.4 million
Colonies as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) also sent a similar number between themColonies as far away as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) also sent a similar number between them
Britain had soldiers from five different continents: Europe, North America, Australasia, Asia and AfricaBritain had soldiers from five different continents: Europe, North America, Australasia, Asia and Africa
The report concluded that the failure to properly commemorate the individuals was influenced by a scarcity of information, errors inherited from other organisations and the opinions of colonial administrators.The report concluded that the failure to properly commemorate the individuals was influenced by a scarcity of information, errors inherited from other organisations and the opinions of colonial administrators.
"Underpinning all these decisions, however, were the entrenched prejudices, preconceptions and pervasive racism of contemporary imperial attitudes," it added."Underpinning all these decisions, however, were the entrenched prejudices, preconceptions and pervasive racism of contemporary imperial attitudes," it added.
Watch the story of black officers who faced discrimination and an "unofficial colour bar" to joining the Army in World War One.Watch the story of black officers who faced discrimination and an "unofficial colour bar" to joining the Army in World War One.
Founded in 1917 as the Imperial War Graves Commission, the organisation is tasked with commemorating those who died in the war.Founded in 1917 as the Imperial War Graves Commission, the organisation is tasked with commemorating those who died in the war.
The report picked out an example from 1923 when the governor of the Gold Coast colony, now Ghana, argued for collective memorials rather than individual ones.The report picked out an example from 1923 when the governor of the Gold Coast colony, now Ghana, argued for collective memorials rather than individual ones.
At a meeting in London, it was said that the governor, F G Guggisberg, said: "The average native of the Gold Coast would not understand or appreciate a headstone."At a meeting in London, it was said that the governor, F G Guggisberg, said: "The average native of the Gold Coast would not understand or appreciate a headstone."
In response, commission employee Arthur Browne said: "In perhaps two or three hundred years' time, when the native population had reached a higher stage of civilisation, they might then be glad to see that headstones had been erected on the native graves and that the native soldiers had received precisely the same treatment as their white comrades."In response, commission employee Arthur Browne said: "In perhaps two or three hundred years' time, when the native population had reached a higher stage of civilisation, they might then be glad to see that headstones had been erected on the native graves and that the native soldiers had received precisely the same treatment as their white comrades."
The report said Mr Browne's response showed "what he may have considered foresight, but one that was explicitly framed by contemporary racial prejudice".The report said Mr Browne's response showed "what he may have considered foresight, but one that was explicitly framed by contemporary racial prejudice".
The commission said the events of a century ago were wrong then and were wrong now.The commission said the events of a century ago were wrong then and were wrong now.
Its director general Claire Horton said: "We recognise the wrongs of the past and are deeply sorry and will be acting immediately to correct them."Its director general Claire Horton said: "We recognise the wrongs of the past and are deeply sorry and will be acting immediately to correct them."
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