Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Olivia Lee

‘How can you not know?’ Black and Asian people went overboard for Britain, says WW2 veteran

Portrait of Jacob sat in chair looking into camera wearing RAF cap and medals
Prince Albert Jacob finally received his medals two years ago and shook hands with the king on VE Day. ‘It’s a dream,’ he says. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

“Most black people went overboard and tried hard to make sure that they did their best for Britain,” says Prince Albert Jacob, a 99-year-old veteran from Trinidad who joined the RAF in 1943.

In a London hotel lobby, after a busy week of VE Day celebrations, Jacob describes feeling disappointed at findings from a recent survey that showed British people remained largely unaware of the black and Asian contribution to the second world war.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.