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Kai Tak airport, Hong Kong – the Bajan connection
Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong closed on 6th July 1998. Landing at Kai Tak was a one-of-a-kind experience for pilots and passengers alike. It was breath-taking. With mountains on the port [left hand] side as you flew through a very distinct urban corridor of medium rise buildings bound by high rise buildings on either side,…
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George Blackman BWIR – There were no parades for us
In 1915 Britain’s War Office, which had initially opposed recruitment of West Indian troops, agreed to accept volunteers from the West Indies. A new regiment was formed, the British West Indies Regiment (BWIR), which served in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. “They called us darkies. But when the battle starts, it didn’t make a…
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The Beautiful Blonde in the Bank – F/L Andrew Leslie Cole AFC RAF
Errol Barrow was Andrew Cole’s navigator while he was in the RAF, firstly with 88 Squadron “B” Flight Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) during World War II and for two years post-war they both flew with the BAFO Communications Squadron, Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) Military Governor’s Flight assigned to Commander-in-Chief and Military Governor of the British Occupation…
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The Canadian Lady Boats
Between 1928 and 1952 The Canadian National Steamship Company Lady Boats (The Canadian Lady Boats) operated two routes from Canada to the West Indies the: The Lady Boats keep coming up in my researches into the family in the West Indies. They were clearly important not just for the economy of the islands but also…
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It was always hot – Memoirs of Col. Reginald T. Michelin, Commissioner of Barbados Police 1949-1953 post Col. Oriel St.A. Duke
Reginald Townend Michelin (1903-1998), CMG (1957), CVO (1953), OBE (1952) took the post of Sub-Inspector, Police, Jamaica, 1924 and Inspector, Police, Leeward Islands, 1928. He was made Assistant Commissioner of Police, Nigeria, 1930, and Commissioner of Police, Barbados, 1949 and Jamaica, 1953, retiring in 1958 from the Colonial Police. In 1940 he married Nina Gladys…
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Anti Submarine & Torpedo Net – Carlisle Bay, Barbados 1942
In early September 1942 the Royal Navy installed an anti-submarine and anti-torpedo boom net across Carlisle Bay. That boom net was tested and breached on 11th September 1942 shortly after 4:30 by German U-boat 514. Carlisle Bay in 1942 was much deeper than it is today. Burkes beach at times had no beach and the…
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F/O Errol Barrow RAF Navigator World War II & Prime Minister of Barbados
Errol Walton Barrow (21st January 1920 – 1st June 1987): distinguished Barbadian statesman, visionary leader and a champion of Caribbean unity led Barbados to independence on 30th November 1966 and then served as Barbados’ first and fourth Prime Minister. Prior to independence from: 1961 to 1966 as leader of the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) Errol Barrow…
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A sailing trip aboard the schooner Mary M Lewis from Bridgetown to Georgetown – Summer 1939.
This is the story of a sailing adventure by 3 boys: Joe Burton (aged 18), Jim Burton (aged 16) and “Ginger” Edwards (aged 16?) who sailed from Bridgetown to Georgetown and back on board the schooner Mary M Lewis in the summer of 1939. Joe Burton and Jim Burton were brothers. “Ginger” Edwards was the…
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Survivors arriving in Barbados in May 1942 from merchant ships sunk by German U-Boats
In May of 1942 there was intense activity by U-Boats in the Caribbean that resulted in heavy losses of allied shipping. Germany was trying, and succeeding, to disrupt the supplies of war material reaching Europe from the USA and Caribbean. Trinidad and Venezuela were supplying the allies with petroleum products, Guyana with Bauxite and the…
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The Sinking of the Florence M. Douglas and the story of Douglas the Barbadian who joined the German Navy in World War II
The Florence M. Douglas was a schooner built in Holetown, Barbados, and owned by Peter S. Hassell. On the 4th May 1942 she was sailing at 07.55N 58.10W from Bonaire, Netherland Antilles, to Georgetown, British Guiana, with a cargo of salt. At 19:00 the U-162 fired a shot across the bow and Captain Herbert Rexford…
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BajanThings
Bajan history. Interesting Bajan people. Hiking in Barbados and Overseas. International Travel…
Category: Barbados during World War I and World War II
Stories about Barbados during the war years 1914 to 1945.