Black Poppies: The Story of Britain's Black Community in the First World War

Stephen Bourne

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9780750999632
• eBook ISBN: 9781803991511

Did you know that Black people from around the world helped Britain fight in the First World War?

How heroic were the people who fought?

Why did Black people have to keep fighting for equality even after the war?

In this young readers' edition of Black Poppies, Stephen Bourne takes us on a hero-filled journey. Explore the many and extraordinary ways in which Black people helped Britain fight the First World War, on the battlefield and at home. After meeting Stephen's Aunty Esther, we hear the story of Walter Tull, who led soldiers in some of history's bloodiest battles and died in the fighting just weeks before the conflict would end. Then there is Alhaji Grunshi, an African who fired the first shot of the whole war. Back at home, Black men and women helped by entertaining the people, making materials like bullets and uniforms, and beginning the long fight for equality and the freedom to celebrate being Black and British with pride.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Introduction
• First World War Timeline
• 1 Aunty Esther
• 2 Walter Tull
• 3 Norman and Roy: Brothers in Arms
• 4 A Death on the Battlefield
• 5 All the King’s Men
• 6 Scotland’s Black Tommy
• 7 George A. Roberts and the Battle of Westminster Bridge
• 8 British West Indies Regiment
• 9 A Jamaican Lad, Shot at Dawn
• 10 Sailors
• 11 A Wing and a Prayer
• 12 Women and War
• 13 The Doves
• 14 Hiawatha and Avril Coleridge-Taylor
• 15 Mabel Mercer
• 16 Ernest Marke: ‘We were just a scapegoat’
• 17 Sailor Town in London’s East End
• 18 Tiger Bay in Cardiff
• 19 Liverpool and the Murder of Charles Wotten
• 20 John Archer and Dr Harold Moody: Community Leaders
• Acknowledgements