By Arlene Munro
Stabroek News
October 9, 2003
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On September 3, 1939 Britain declared war on Germany. The following day the Colonial Secretary of British Guiana, Mr. G.D. Owen, moved a motion of loyalty to the British monarchy in the Legislative Council. The motion stated:
That the Legislative Council of British Guiana on behalf of the inhabitants of the colony beg leave to lay before your Majesty on the outbreak of the war with Germany an expression of our humble duty to your Majesty and our unfailing loyalty to the throne.
The motion was seconded by Mr. E.G. Woolford and was to be transmitted to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Following this declaration other pledges of loyalty were made by the British Guiana Sick Nurses and Dispensers’ Association. A resolution to this effect was passed at a meeting of the Association held on 31 May 1940. Other resolutions of loyalty were passed by the employers and employees of the Town Hall and the British Guiana Teachers’ Association.
British Guiana’s financial contribution to the war effort started not long after the war commenced. Her contribution is remarkable when the economic conditions are taken into consideration. During the early years of the Second World War, there were certain hardships in the British Caribbean such as food shortages, increased cost of living and blackmarketing. The factors responsible for these conditions were the disruption of shipping due to the Second World War, the adoption of the Imperial war policy that imports be reduced, and the Caribbean’s long dependence on food imports which retarded local food production. British Guiana experienced steep rises in the cost of living which caused severe hardship. Between 1938 and 1944, the cost of food rose by fifty-four per cent in Georgetown and sixty-eight per cent on the sugar estates in the rural area. Moreover, the cost of living index moved from 100 in 1938 to 161 in 1945 in the city while, in the rural areas, it rose from 100 in 1938 to 190 in 1945. Imported goods and food were scarce, rationed and expensive due to hoarding practices of shopkeepers. Despite these conditions, Guianese made a valiant attempt to contribute to the war effort.
Mr. Reginald G. Humphrey, merchant and proprietor of Humphrey Jewellery and Hairdressing Establishment, was the first to donate his collection of rare gold coins and a gold snuffbox to the British Red Cross Mansion House Fund. He requested that the 55 coins and snuff box be valued at Christies in London and sold for the benefit of the Fund. The collection included coins of South American Republics, French, Spanish and American coins, and British coins, including a Medallion which was struck to commemorate the Diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.
In 1939, Mr. Boodhoo a rice farmer of Windsor Forest, donated 9,000 lbs of rice to the United Kingdom. The rice was sent to H.M. Forces overseas and to destitute persons in London, the Army, the Red Cross and Moorfield Hospital, London between 1939 and 1941.
The Leprosy Hospital remitted $187.00 to the Mobile Canteen Fund in 1940. In 1941, the Public Servants also contributed $2,070 for a canteen but this was later used to “furnish huts on anti-aircraft sites at Pembroke dock and Swansea.” The Young Men’s Christian Association also sent five mobile canteens to the United Kingdom through a Canteen Fund organised by Mrs. W. S. Jones. These canteens were worth $8,468.06.
During 1942, the Guianese people continued to support the war effort by donating generously to various funds.
British Red Cross
7,453 pounds
Bomber fund
2,500 pounds
WIC War Services Fund
100 pounds
St. George’s Sailors’ Fund
263 pounds
YMCA Mobile Canteen Fund
1,097 pounds
St. Dunstan’s for the Blind
1,546 pounds
R.G. Humphrey also donated 250 pounds for the purchase of a mobile canteen, while children from the elementary schools offered 59 pounds to the Overseas Tobacco Fund.
Other funds to which Guianese contributed were the Royal Air Force benevolent fund, the Czechoslovak Red Cross fund, the British Guiana Servicemen’s Leave Fund, the Chinese Red Cross Fund, the Help the Children Fund, the King George’s Fund for Sailors, and the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund.
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund received $12,893 from British Guiana. The Czechoslovak Red Cross Fund, which was started by Prokop and Krajca of the Bata Shoe Company received $1,680. The British Guiana Servicemen’s Leave Fund was sponsored by A.C. Dowd, Managing Director of William Fogarty Ltd., and was used to support Guianese servicemen on leave.
The Help the Children Fund was started in 1941 by the Director of Education who encouraged children to sent used postage stamps to the Fund. These stamps were forwarded to Britian where they were resold and the proceeds were used to provide for children in the United Kingdom who were orphaned during the war. From 1941 to 1943 72,000 stamps were sent to Blackpool.
The Overseas League Tobacco fund realised $1,165 between 1942 and 1945. The British Guiana Teachers’ Association and the Education Department both collected money for this fund.
The King George’s Fund for Sailors was started in 1940 to provide for the war needs of seamen of the Royal and Merchant navies and fishing fleets. By 1944, $6,385.02 had been raised. In 1945, an additional $2,179 was collected. The Secretary of this fund was Mr. J. Ogilive.
In October 1944, the Red Cross Aid to Russia Fund was started and this received a total of $932 by July 1945. This fund was sponsored by Mrs. Churchill. The Bomber Fund collected $347,483 from June 1940 to November 1943. This money was used to purchase bomber and fighter aircraft.
The British Guiana Red Cross and War Services Appeal Committee was appointed in September 1939 by Sir John Waddington and realised the sum of $224,913 by 1945.
British Guiana also gave financial assistance to the war effort in other ways. The Secretary of State sent a circular letter to the colonies advising that greater investment in the Post Office Savings Bank be practised. The limit of $1,000.00 was to be abolished.
Another form of financial assistance that was considered in 1941 was the issue of Savings Certificates in accordance with a scheme proposed by the Secretary of State. The monies accruing from this venture would be invested in the war effort. This recommendation was made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. However, after consulting the Colonial Treasurer, the Executive Council made a decision, not to take any action to implement the scheme at that time.
Financial donations to the war effort formed just a small proportion of British Guiana’s general contribution. These donations were significant because they were raised at a time when Guianese were experiencing hardship due to blackmarketing, food shortages and an increased cost of living. The Guianese people rose to the challenge of assisting the Allied Forces, the British Red Cross Fund, and several other needy institutions during the war years. Their remittances were indicative of their interest in the welfare of the other members of the British Empire and in the triumph of the Allied Forces over Hitler’s armies.
During the Second World War, British Guiana, like other West Indian colonies, made a contribution to the war effort; it is common knowledge that her men formed part of the South Caribbean Forces. In addition, Guianese volunteered to serve overseas with the British Navy, Royal Force, and the Women's Corps. British Guiana also made a contribution to the war effort which is commendable when the economic plight of her people is taken into consideration. Moreover, she agreed to shelter some Jewish refugees within her borders.
The first instalment of this article examined the financial contribution which British Guiana made to the war effort. This one will focus on other ways in which the colony assisted the war effort. Young Guianese men volunteered for service in the British army and navy. Some travelled to Britain to be trained to serve in various munitions factories. One characteristic of this exodus was the youthfulness of the persons who were recruited. They were typical young people who were adventurous and desired to see not only Britain but the rest of the world. The education they had received had trained them to look to the metropolis for higher education and for employment opportunities. It is noteworthy that this exodus was being paralleled by a similar movement in other British colonies as the Secretary of State for the Colonies attempted to recruit the best volunteers for the British army and navy.
British Guiana also provided a haven for some Jewish refugees. In July 1942, the Executive Council agreed to accommodate 50 Jewish refugees who hailed from Spain and were residing in Curacao and seeking refuge from the Germans. As Curacao had already agreed to shelter 50 Jews, the British Guiana Executive Council decided to accept another 50 for six months on condition that funds were provided for that purpose. The refugees were housed at the Superin-tendent's house in Mazaruni.
Then in August 1942, the Executive Council considered a request made by the Secretary of State for the Colonies for the accommodation of eight Jewish families originating for Yugoslavia. They were residing in Spain, but were being forced to return to their country. Once again, the Executive Council agreed to accept them provided that British Guiana did not have to support them financially. By November, the number of families prepared to travel to British Guiana had decreased to four.
The Guianese people made a contribution to the war effort in other ways. Many young men volunteered for active service in the British army and navy. Sir John Waddington, Acting Governor of British Guiana, observed as early as November 1939:
"I wish to make special mention of the enthusiasm displayed by large amounts of our young men in volunteering for active service in any capacity. It has already been explained that increases in the fighting forces in the United Kingdom are being made according to an ordered plan, and that at present time it would not be in the national interest to enrol volunteers other than those who have had some specialized training."
In 1941, the British Air Ministry sent a copy of guidelines to assist the Selection Board in British Guiana as it chose "suitable candidates for enlistment into the Royal Air Force for employment on aircrew duties." The Local Selection board was advised to choose persons who exhibited courage, determination, keenness, mental alertness, initiative and a sense of responsibility. Those who displayed a greater degree of keenness and mental alertness and had an acceptable educational background were to be recommended for pilot training. The others were to be recommended for training as wireless operators (aircrew). A telegram revealed that the first batch of Guianese candidates who were accepted for pilot training in Britain were Armstrong, Blee, Kenyon, De Freitas and White.
By the end of 1941, Sir Gordon Lethem was reporting that 95 Guianese had joined His Majesty's forces, of which 22 were in the Royal Air Force and 42 in the navy. The remaining 31 had been recruited for 'specialized work'. These statistics did not include those Guianese who were working in the Merchant Navy. In 1943, 32 Guianese enlisted in the Armed Forces, 20 travelled to the United Kingdom to serve as munitions workers in factories, and 48 joined in the Trinidad Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. Although the first batch of Guianese candidates had received training in Britain, other candidates were sent to Canada between 1942 and 1943, followed by another group of five candidates on 16th September 1943. This group included V.P. Dias, F. Gonsalves, A. Goveia, E.A. Phillips and F.S. Da Silva. This enlistment of Guianese in the armed forces and as specialized workers was done in response to a request from the Secretary of State for the Colonies. It was a request that was made of all the British colonies, including those in the West Indies.
When the Executive Coun-cil considered the request for skilled tradesmen to work as volunteers in the Army or in the munitions factories in Britain, it decided to "limit the number of volunteers in the first instance with the object of avoiding possible discontent and dislocation of industry." At a subsequent meeting the Council agreed to issue a notice asking tradesmen to volunteer and stating that only the highly skilled and physically fit would be recruited. Volunteers who were serving in important positions in 'essential industries' would not be accepted. The applicants would have to undergo medical and technical examination. A committee was to be appointed to handle the issue of volunteers who occupied important positions.
A reserved Occupations Committee was established to supervise the recruitment of "skilled tradesmen as volunteers for the army or for employment on munitions production in Great Britain." The committee comprised B.R. Wood, Chairman, E.G. Woolford, H.C. Humphreys, J. Gonsalves, T. Cowell, Captain G.H. Smellie, and H. Critchlow. Another committee was formed to interview volunteers in their trades. This committee included G.I. Goring, A.E. Gagan, A.E. Chapple, A.C. Broughton and J. Watson.
The volunteers were required to sign an agreement to serve under certain conditions. They agreed to be trained at a Government centre in Britain for a period of three to five months. They would receive training in general precision fitting, machine tool re-conditioning, jig and tool fitting, centre lathe turning, milling, grinding, capstan operating, miscellaneous engineering, machine tool operating, shut metal working and panel beating, garage mechanics, welding (electric and oxy-acetylene).
The volunteers could not decide which trade they should pursue. The manager of the centre would decided which trade they would be trained in. On completion of his training, the volunteer would be sent to work at a place determined by the Ministry of Labour. If he had successfully completed his course of study, he would be offered an engineering job. If not, he would be offered other kinds of employment. Men would have to purchase their own tools from the training centre after completing their training.
While in Britain, the volunteers would be accommodated at hostels or at other places approved by the Ministry of Labour. Workers would be required to pay rent. The government of the colony was supposed to pay an expatriation grant of one pound to the dependents of the trainees while they were in Britain. From the time of his arrival in the United Kingdom, the trainee would receive a "settling-in" grant of 1 pound. Later, when he became a worker, he would receive wages at the same rate as the citizens of the United Kingdom. Workers had to pay for their travelling expenses. But the Ministry of Labour would refund any money expended over five shillings per week. The worker would be compensated for injuries received during the voyage to the United Kingdom. Their wages would be subject to taxation. They would receive a free return passage from the Ministry of Labour at the end of their period of work in the United Kingdom.
It was agreed that 200 male West Indian workers would be recruited to work in the United Kingdom under these conditions. An appeal was made for "keen and adaptable men' with an aptitude for engineering between the ages of 21 and 30 who had received a fair elementary education. They were required to be intelligent and physically fit. They had to pass medical examinations and be free from pulmonary tuberculosis and venereal disease.
Conditions were not always excellent. In April 1943. Governor Lethem sent a letter to the Secretary of State informing him that 20 Guianese recruits who had gone to Britain had not received their settling-in grants and had been given a loan which had to be repaid.
Allegations were also made about racial discrimination against coloured volunteers. These allegations were mentioned in a letter sent by the Governor of the colony to the Secretary of State in 1945. While conceding that the allegations were both 'scurrilous' and 'unfair' to the Royal Air Force and to the West Indians, he argued that there might be some basis of truth. It was alleged that coloured recruits were not allowed to be friendly with the WAAFs, could not attend the cinema or use the Air Station Transport, and were given menial work to do. It was alleged that men who had been recruited to work in one trade were being placed in other trades on their arrival in Britain.
Lethem enclosed a letter written by the Chairman of the Reserved Occupations Committee, B.R. Wood. The chairman refuted these allegations and stated that none of the letters which were written by Guianese in Britain had evidence to support the allegations. He claimed that they were distortions of the facts. Mr. Wood was perhaps attempting to pour oil on troubled waters.
In spite of the element of alleged racism, Guianese continued to make their contribution to the war effort as volunteers in the British army and navy. They were joined by skilled tradesmen who volunteered to work in the munitions factories of Britain. The government of British Guiana also allowed Jews from Spain to stay in the colony during the war years. These Jews had fled from Spain as the anti-Semitic German armies advanced into Europe.