West Indies Calling (1944)

In this film, made during the Second World War by the Ministry of Information, a group of West Indians, led by Una Marson and Learie Constantine, assemble at Broadcasting House in London. They describe to listeners of a popular BBC radio series, 'Calling the West Indies', how people from the Caribbean are supporting the war effort. Constantine speaks about factory workers, and introduces some war-workers, including Ulric Cross, a bomber navigator from Trinidad. Cross tells of his work in the RAF and Carlton Fairweather introduces a film about lumbermen from British Honduras. The film ends with a dance in the BBC studio. (Stephen Bourne)

You can watch over 1500 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the BFI Mediatheque. There are Mediatheques at BFI Southbank, London, QUAD, Derby and the new Central Library, Cambridge: http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque http://www.derbyquad.co.uk/bfi-mediatheque http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/online/bfi_media.htm

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[BFIfilms]

Please note that this channel will not tolerate racist language, and any offensive comments will be removed.

[kathylvorg]

I'm from Canada and my dad was a West Indian WWII veteran who volunteered to fight for Canada. He was an officer and a gentleman. After the war he obtained his Master's from McGill University and became a diplomat. He received many honours and awards in post war life. He led by example, In 2002 received the Queen's medal, awarded to Canadians who made a significant contribution to their fellow citizens, their community or to Canada over the previous fifty years. Please keep conversations civil.

[kingoliver45]

This is so hip

[TenshiTamagoKidd15]

my dads family if from the west indies i think :D

[KevinJKtheman]

Thank you for you're civil reply, I see what you were detting at now People from Africa the West indies, and the Indian sub continent, have largely been forgotten, even by the British themselves. Films like these should be shown on TV more. I would also like to say that despite some of the comments you may find on youtube, we also hold the Americans who fought in both wars in high regard too, don't listen too the you tube haters. Respect!

[34airflow]

@KevinJKtheman

Gosh, i had to scroll back to find what I'd said. I certainly know, even as an American ;-), that people from all over the Commonwealth fought for freedom. I believe that I was trying to say that I don't believe people from the colonies were normally given as much respect by the British government as the soldiers in this film were. Do you see what I mean? I didn't say that Trinidadians, Indians, Jamaicans, etc., didn't fight in the war. I'm thankful they did!

[KevinJKtheman]

@34airflow What do dyou mean "if only", West Indians did serve the mother country, just like this video says, my Father and Uncles served in the war, my Father was in the royal air force, my uncles were in the Army,Royal and merchant Navies respecively and they spoke of West Indians, Africans, Indians, that they met in the services. As an American, just what would you know about who served in the British armed forces during WWII ?