A memorial commemorating the Black Seamen who served during WWII was mounted with a new plaque.
The Black Merchant Seamen’s War Memorial in Falkner Square in Toxteth has been in existence since May 1993. Following a long-standing local campaign since 2005 led by Donna Kassim, a once forgotten piece of local history has been given a new lease of life.
Community members, the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers Union, War Memorials Trust and a generous personal donation by Les Spaine of Les Spaine Music Company raised funds for the site to be transformed into a fitting tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The official unveiling of the renovated memorial took place on Saturday, February 18.
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Donna, whose father was a merchant seaman from Yemen, told the ECHO: "I felt a close affinity with the merchant seamen’s memorial and was driven by the lack of recognition of the histories of those who served the UK during those dark days of war. Our merchant seamen were crucial and overlooked.
“They were instrumental in providing logistical support during the war, with over 30,000 merchant seamen losing their lives. The merchant navy was regarded as the fourth service alongside the army, navy and airforce".
The memorial was first installed in the park in 1993 following the efforts of a Liverpool 8 community group led by Joe Farrag. Its installation commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic.
Over the years bushes and shrubs became overgrown and the memorial was hidden. Donna said: "I came across a book (in 2005) by David Lewis called Walks Through History, Liverpool which referred to the Georgian Quarter of Liverpool 8 and Falkner Square gardens.
"The book referred to the only war memorial in the city honouring Black merchant seamen, in fact the only monument recognising our contribution. It was then I set about fundraising to get the stone and plaque cleaned. As you can imagine it was in a poor state".
Donna contacted Liverpool City Council and the War Memorials Trust and found it was listed and the council agreed to ensure the area around it was regularly cleared and pruned.
Joe said: "The 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic is this May. The memorial stone itself is from the Sailors' Home that was in Canning Place, which I rescued after demolition.
“My grandad, Ali Hussein Farrag served on the Fort Concord, sunk in WWII by a U-boat in the Battle of the Atlantic".
Chair of the Royal British Legion (RBL), Liverpool City Branch, Major Elaine Overend said: "My family are from the Liverpool 8 area. Lots were merchant sailors that came during the war and settled here from the Cayman Islands and other parts of the Caribbean.
"I’ve always done a lot for the Royal British Legion, but this project is very close to my heart because it involves my family. It's been an absolute pleasure working with the community who have been absolutely brilliant".
Louise McWatt from the Battle of the Atlantic Memorial charity was present, as was Ian Murphy from the Maritime Museum in Liverpool’s Royal Albert Dock and pledged to work alongside the Black community. Elaine added: "This is just a start, the community needs representation at big events, as we have not got a presence there and we need one”.
Chair of the Royal British Legion, West Lancashire & Merseyside County, Kathy Filkins said: “We want to engage with the local community. This is so important because it's been missing over a long period of time now and we want to make sure that the community are getting the services they need, require and desperately should be given from the RBL.
"I’m absolutely honoured to be here today on behalf of West Lancs and Merseyside County”.
Donna concluded: "It's about time we're visible outside of the community. Our narrative, our stories, our faces need to be visible and to have people from these organisations who want to work with us by linking up with the RBL, Maritime Museum and the Battle of Britain charity”.
For information visit Black Merchant Seamen's Memorial Campaign Group HERE
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