From War to Windrush: Exhibition honouring Jamaicans in World Wars to open Nov 14

KINGSTON (JIS): 'From War to Windrush', an exhibition commemorating the contribution of Jamaicans in World War I and II, will be held from November 14, 2010 to September 2011 at the Institute of Jamaica's Exhibition Gallery, at the corner of East Street, downtown Kingston.

Speaking at a press briefing held on November 4 at the British High Commission in New Kingston to announce the exhibition, chairman, Board of Management, Museums of History and Ethnography, Dr Rebecca Tortello noted the display represents a partnership between Imperial War Museum in London and the Institute of Jamaica.

"We are very excited about the potential that partnership holds. There is an interactive session that is targeting children and we are also very excited about that, as this represents another direction that the museum division is attempting to attract family audiences and to better serve our school children," Dr Tortello said.

British High Commissioner, Howard Drake, said he hoped many Jamaicans will be able to view the exhibition.

"I share your hope that a lot of Jamaicans will get the chance to see it, and have it brought to them. I wish for all of you a successful exhibition and I am sure it will be a wonderful contribution to develop the understanding of, particularly, young Jamaicans, some very important history," Drake said.

reflecting

In his remarks, senior director of culture at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Sydney Bartley, stated that the exhibition was very important to the country.

"Those of us who try to understand what brand Jamaica is, come to understand it by virtue of the contribution Jamaicans have made not only here, but internationally over the years. For a small country, and for people who have come through all sorts of historical realities to take on a role in anything to do with the promotion of justice, freedom is something that we continue to reflect on and continue to bring to our people as we deal with the current realities that we face," Bartley said.

"What it allows us to do is to use this knowledge to garner the kind of attitude and the kind of postures of confidence that allows us to take on the problems that we face in the continuous efforts to establish ourselves as a global force," he added.

'From War to Windrush' pays tribute to the black men and women from the Caribbean, who participated in the World Wars. It explores their involvement on the front line during those conflicts, and examines how their experiences led to the establishment of Britain's contemporary West Indian population.

values of duty

'War ... lest we forget', an exhibition presented by the Institute of Jamaica's Museums of History and Ethnography, will run concurrently with the display. It demonstrates how the values of duty towards the British Crown and the strong impetus of Jamaican men and women to defend their mother country in times of hostilities led many to foreign land.

Approximately 16,000 Caribbean men volunteered in the first World War and over 10,000 servicemen and women during the second World War.

The British-based Thomas De La Rue and Company Limited has provided £5,000 for the 'From War to Windrush' exhibition.