Black lives in WW1 & WW2 ( 10 )

I came across a 10 page article about*Celebrating Black lives In the World Wars *

I have photocopied the second half and found out extra information about the 10 men and women mentioned. They are set out in the order they are mentioned in the article.

Walter Tull - served in WW1 in the Middlesex Regiment
killed in action on 25th March 1918 played football

Robbie Clarke- William Robinson Clarke- WW1 airman. First black pilot to fly for Britain. Died aged 88

George Arthur Roberts- a Trinidadian soldier WW1- known as the coconut bomber , fire-fighter during Blitz (WW11)

Learie Nicholas Constantine, Baron Constantine (1969) -first black peer- cricketer, lawyer & politician - during WW11 responsible for West Indians employed in GB factories

Princess Adenrele Ademole - a Nigerian princess trained as a nurse at Guy’s Hospital during WW11. Her patients called ‘fairy’.

Adelaide Hall - American born UK based jazz singer and entertainer - one of the first entertainers to enter Germany before the war had officially ended - *Creole Love Call(1927) famous recording - career of 70 years - died aged 92

Philip Louis Ukric Cross DSO DFC, a Trinidadian, nicknamed The Black Hornet is often recognised as the most decorated Caribbean airman of WW11. He was a navigator and became an expert at precision bombing. By the end of the war he had flown 80 missions over Germany and occupied Europe.

John Jellicoe Blair DFC - a Jamaican was also a navigator.He flew in Halifax Bombers flying from Yorkshire. He flew 33 missions over Europe during WW11. Ended war as a Flight lieutenant.

Lilian Bader - enlisted in 1939 but dismissed after 7 weeks- reason father not born in UK. Later, when she heard RAF were taking citizens of West Indian descent she applied again and became one of the first black women to join the RAF- Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. She trained in instrument repair - a trade newly opened to women. In the 1960s went to evening classes,studied at London University and became a teacher.

John Henry Clavell Smythe, joined RAF and trained as a navigator- did 26 bombing missions, 27 th shot down - spent 2 years in German prison. In 1948 became senior officer aboard the Empire Windrush. Awarded MBE in 1951 Birthday Honours.