Prince Charles and Camilla were among the dignitaries who attended the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day. This happened at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.
This day marks the surrender by Japan and the end of World War II. During the ceremony, the Red Arrows (Royal Air-force Aerobatic Team) displayed their prowess.
The Commonwealth (Britain included) formed a common fighting force called the Fourteenth Army which was very diverse with its solders speaking over 40 world languages and all major world religions were represented.
This army conducted campaigns in Burma, where they faced tropical disease as well as the ferocious Japanese Army.
According to Joseph Hammond, a veteran of the Second World War, “Japanese were the most ferocious human fighters that I have ever seen.”
Our East African brothers were transported on board of ships such as the SS Khedive Ismail to Colombo in Ceylon and then to head wards to Burma (now Myanmar). This reminds me veterans such as “Omenta” a neighbor to my great grandmother who died in abject poverty despite having fought in the World War II against the Japanese.
The SS Khedive Ismael was sank by the Japanese submarine. On board were 1,511 people out of which 996 were members of the East African Artillery. According to Owaah, only 215 people made it out alive. The survivors were still transported to Ceylon where they were given leave for two weeks becoming joining the war.
It is estimated that by the end of World War II, there were 100,000 Kenyans working as military officers in the either the Pioneer Corps or the Kings African Rifles. More than 1 million Africans were engaged in the world which had nothing to do with them.
Being a soldier during those times had a number of benefits such as being excluded from paying the hut and poll taxes as well as being guaranteed a steady income.
It is sad that the British government never compensated the African soldiers even after they won the war against Japan in 1945.
Even when the war was going on, the African soldiers were paid three times less than what was paid to the white soldiers.
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