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Errol Barrow and his commanding officer Sholto Douglas
This is the story of the deep bond that developed between Errol Barrow and his commanding officer Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir William Sholto Douglas who was the Military Governor of Germany after World War II. From 1945 to 1947 Errol Barrow served as a Navigator within the Commander-in-Chief, Military Governor’s Flight with…
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F/O Leo Leslie Schultz RAAF – 1921 to 1990
Errol Barrow’s crew in RAF 88 Squadron “B” Flight, Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) during World War II consisted of: English pilot Andy Cole and the two Australian rear wireless operator and air gunners (WAGs): Leo Schultz and Allen “Shorty” Stewart. BajanThings has covered both Errol Barrow’s time in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and his…
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World War I Commonwealth War Graves – Barbados
On 25th August 2021 it will be exactly 100 years since the death of Wendell Valentyne Byer. Who was Wendell you may ask? A famous cricketer? A politician perhaps? No, he was none of these, Wendell was once a trainee schoolteacher in St George. He was strong and fit – 5 feet 11 and a…
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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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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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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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BajanThings
Bajan history. Interesting Bajan people. Hiking in Barbados and Overseas. International Travel…
Category: Remembrance Sunday
On Remembrance Sunday, the second Sunday of November each year, we honour the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Commonwealth who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Navy and Emergency Services during the First and Second World Wars and in later conflicts. Their courage, dedication and sacrifices in defending our freedoms is not forgotten. We will remember them.
“When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Your Tomorrow,
We Gave Our Today.”