Students learn of soldiers' bravery at Black History Month exhibit

9:20am Wednesday 21st October 2009

By Craig Evry

A soldier awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in Iraq and another earning the honour for capturing German machine posts during the Second World War were among those featured in an exhibition brought to Trowbridge this week.

Around 170 school children from across Wiltshire were due to visit the We Were There exhibition at the Civic Hall, which started yesterday and runs until tomorrow. It has been organised as part of Black History Month.

The Ministry of Defence exhibition looks at the efforts of individuals from ethnic minority communities who played a pivotal role for Britain in conflicts over the years, from pre-1914 and the two World Wars, up to the present day conflicts in the Middle East.

Funded through a £1,600 grant from Wiltshire Council, the exhibition, organised by Heather Patrick, features a static display packed full of photos and stories, as well as four touch-screen units including film clips and articles.

A DVD is being shown throughout the event of the BBC show The First Black Britons.

Ms Patrick said: “The kids are getting a wider perspective of historical facts.

“Some people think it is just for the black and ethnic minorities, but it’s about the wider community and getting people to think about the fact that the British forces are made up of people from all over the world.

“It’s the first time these children are seeing and hearing these stories, so they are fascinated by them.”

Among the stories featured is that of Private Johnson Beharry, awarded the VC for two acts of bravery in Iraq in 2004. Private Beharry, born in Grenada, suffered serious injuries after saving comrades at risk of death under enemy fire.

India-born Sepoy Kamul Ram, of the 3rd Battalion, 8th Punjab Regiment, was also awarded the VC during the Second World War for taking out German machine gun posts on the Gustav line in Italy.

Members of the public attending the exhibition tomorrow can also enjoy African drumming from Kulchalee, drama and and interactive archives from the Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre in Chippenham.

On Saturday, there will be a day of celebrations at the Civic Hall to mark Black History Month, including information stands, cultural talks, drama workshops, hair braiding, face paiting and African drumming workshops, from 2pm to 5pm.

During the evening, from 5.30pm, there will be a licensed bar, music from the a Trowbridge gospel choir, rap poetry from Moroccan teenager Chahida Boutarfas, 18, from Trowbridge, a Michael Jackson and Motown tribute set and a performance by reggae band Troy Ellis and The Longshots.

For the first time this year, the Black History Month celebrations in Trowbridge have included input from the West Wiltshire Interfaith Group and the Wiltshire Islamic Cultural Centre.