A sailor who was chased to his death by a racist mob more than 100 years ago has finally been given a permanent headstone.
Charles Wotten – also known as Wootton – died in Liverpool in 1919 and was buried in a pauper’s grave.
His new headstone was officially unveiled at Anfield Cemetery yesterday.
It is the first of several memorials marking the contributions of Black people to the city.– also known as Wootton – died in Liverpool in 1919 and was buried in a pauper’s grave.
His new headstone was officially unveiled at Anfield Cemetery yesterday.
It is the first of several memorials marking the contributions of Black people to the city.
Laurence Westgaph, of the Liverpool Black History Research Group, said: “We had to get Home Office permission for the headstone because Charles is in a public grave.
“We want to recognise Charles Wotten but also the adult education centre named after him in Liverpool, which became a hub for Liverpool’s Black community inspiring a generation of young activists in the fight for equality.”
The Charles Wootton College for Further Education was opened in the Toxteth area in 1974 but closed in 1999.
According to the International Slavery Museum, based in the city’s Royal Albert Dock, Mr Wotten’s death came after a period of rising racial tensions. Servicemen returning from the First World War found their jobs had been filled by women and immigrants.
On the evening of June 5, police raided a boarding house in Liverpool, home to mainly Caribbean and West African seafarers.
Mr Wotten, 24, a ship’s fireman from Bermuda, escaped the house and fled towards the docks, chased by police and the mob.
It is not clear exactly what happened but he was held by the police and somehow ended up in the River Mersey at Queen’s Dock. He tried to swim away, while the mob pelted him with bricks and stones, but soon drowned. A coroner’s investigation did not give a clear verdict as to whether he had jumped or had been pushed.
A plaque in memory of Mr Wotten was unveiled at Queen’s Dock in 2017.
