From Arras to Alrewas ‘over 320 miles - more than just a walk’

The National Caribbean Monument
Charity (TNCMC) is seeking to raise funds to build a monument at the National
Memorial Arboretum (NMA), in remembrance of the Afro-Caribbean Servicemen and
women who have made the ultimate sacrifice fighting in support of the United
Kingdom during the last 200 years.  Two retired RAF personnel, with nearly 90 years Regular and Reservist service
between them, will walk an average of 26 miles a day for 12 days, supporting TNCMC fundraising.  Flight Lieutenant Wayne Howell and Flight Sergeant Stephen ‘Walt’ Disney, having served 48 years
and nearly 42 years, respectively, will attend the daily Remembrance Service at Alrewas, location of the NMA, on Friday 8^th October 2021.  The walkers will travel over to Northern France, ready to commence walking back to the NMA, via Ypres, Belgium, 10-22 October. Each day the walkers will visit at least 2 war memorials of relevance to the Afro-Caribbean community. 

In a previous fundraiser held in October 2020, Wayne and Stephen walked from Ayr (Walter Tull childhood & Army Officer Training location) on the West Scottish Coast to the NMA (320 miles), #From Ayr to Eternity (NMA). Although the walk was comfortably completed, the fundraising was defeated by Covid-19; it is hoped that this 2021 Black History month event will be a successful fundraiser. 

Since the recent acknowledgement by the British Government that not all Afro-Caribbean fighters who gave their lives in the First World War were afforded a marked grave and headstone by the War Graves Commission, one of the aims of this Pilgrimage will be laying wreaths in the memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but were not given the respect they fully deserved.  The pilgrimage also offers the opportunity on Day Two for Pauline Milnes, TNCMC Deputy Chair, to lay wreath on the grave of Herbert Morris, a recently pardoned shot at dawn 1^st WW deserter, at Poperinge Cemetery in Belgium.