Caribbean Volunteers at War

“During the Second World War nearly 500 Black Caribbean volunteers served with the RAF . . . This valuable work looks at their experiences.”—HistoryOfWar The heroic exploits of the Caribbean men and women who volunteered their services to the Allied effort during the Second World War have, until now, passed by with little fanfare or attention. Indeed, whilst many people are aware of the contribution that the various Bomber Command units paid in securing ultimate victory, little is said or understood of the achievements and sacrifices of the heroic Caribbean volunteers who contributed to some of their greatest victories. Mark Johnson presents us here with an engrossing and humane account of the exploits of such individuals—including a great number of insights and fascinating details taken from conversations with his great-uncle, John Blair, who served a full tour with Bomber Command, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross. The book illuminates the day-to-day reality of life as a Caribbean volunteer during the Second World War and the kind of culture-clash experiences that characterized their wartime careers. An important book, offering a platform upon which to appreciate the true extent of the Caribbean contribution to the Allied war effort, the work offers a new slant on the popular Bomber Command theme; one that looks set to intrigue a number of readers yet to be acquainted with this facet of the unit’s history. “Entertaining and rewarding . . . it is high time we had more books like this one plugging the knowledge gap and setting a few things straight.”—War History Online