20th Century

New articles – Black History Month 2025

We have new articles this month from regular contributors, John Ellis and Audrey Dewjee. The fact we are in Black History Month is purely coincidental, at Historycal Roots, every month is Black History Month!

John tells us of three more Black soldiers in World War One.

Lance-Corporal Joseph AW Peterson, Hampshire Regiment, service No.17350

I know that John was irritated by criticism of the film 1917 when it was released in 2019. It garnered high praise for its technical brilliance (seemingly shot in one continuous take although, in fact, there were some barely noticeable edits), and for its unvarnished depiction of the horror of war. One reviewer said:

This film is overwhelming. I have nothing further to add, other than the compelling need for eternal remembrance to those who sacrificed their lives in any way, we can not fathom.

But there were those who criticised the ‘unrealistic’ inclusion of Black and Asian soldiers which allegedly arose from a need to appear ‘woke’:

All movie producers these days are under pressure to kneel before the “Woke” generation and showcase minorities, even if it couldn’t have happened.

When I asked Google A1 about this I got the following response:

The 2019 film ‘1917’ features black soldiers, but their presence with integrated British infantry units was largely an artistic choice to reflect that the war was a global conflict, rather than an accurate depiction of military integration at the time While black soldiers did serve in the war, they were typically in separate units or labor corps, with a few exceptions like Walter Tull, a black officer in the Middlesex Regiment.

Sadly more and more people will get their ‘history’ filtered by AI rather than from the whole series of articles that John has written on the subject. AI can be helpful, of course, but clearly there are huge risks if we come to rely on it.

John’s latest article is here:

https://www.historycalroots.com/three-black-soldiers-in-world-war-one/

Not content with that, John has also written about Private C Calvert, who served in the Middlesex Regiment in WW1. We would not know of Private Calvert were it not for a very brief item that appeared in the Daily Mirror on 1^st September 1915:

https://www.historycalroots.com/private-c-calvert-of-the-middlesex-regiment-in-ww1/

And, John has also found time to write about yet another Black soldier in World War One. You can read about Michael Cipriani here:

https://www.historycalroots.com/trooper-michael-cipriani-a-coloured-trinidadian-in-the-life-guards-during-the-first-world-war/

Audrey takes us further back into British history, to the proclamation issued by the Lord Mayor of London on 14^th September 1731:

‘for the future no Negroes or other Blacks be suffered to be bound apprentices at any of the Companies of this City’.

As you will read, the Aldermen of the City of London were clearly having second thoughts about granting the Freedom of the City of London just one week earlier to John Satia. Originally from Barbados, Satia had been brought to England as a servant and subsequently served an apprenticeship. Completing the apprenticeship ‘entitled’ him to the Freedom of the City, which was duly granted on 14^th September 1731.

Keen that London shouldn’t have it all its own way, Audrey introduces us to John Moore who gained the Freedom of York even earlier, on 29^th September 1687. As freemen these men would have been entitled to vote in General Elections and may well have done so.

You can read Audrey’s article here:

https://www.historycalroots.com/early-black-freemen-and-voters-john-satia-john-london-and-john-moore/

Enjoy reading these articles and remember, the next Black History Month – November 2025 – is just days away!

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at the Three Choirs Festival

We don’t write about Samuel Coleridge-Taylor as often as we should, he featured in one of our first posts (in 2016) and a few since, but he was one of our main inspirations when we started Historycal Roots and we welcome any excuse to write about him again. Although he has never been ‘hidden history’ (he was hugely famous in the 1890s and early years of the 20^th century), he undeniably fell out of fashion for several decades before making a comeback in recent years. Now, as we approach the 150^th anniversary of his birth on 15^th August 1875, it would be remiss of us not to take the opportunity to celebrate his life.

The Three Choirs Festival (the choirs of Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford) gave him a big break when, at the age of twenty-three, he was invited to write an orchestral work for the 1898 festival, hosted that year by Gloucester. It was, the already famous, Edward Elgar who put his name forward to the festival organisers, describing him as ‘by far and away the cleverest fellow amongst the younger men.’ The piece Coleridge-Taylor wrote for that year’s festival, ‘Ballade in A Minor’, was a great success and is still performed today. A review in The Morning Post commented that although the composer was ‘hitherto little, if at all, known in Gloucester … the Music Committee was fully justified in asking him to contribute to this year’s Festival scheme.’ We might raise an eyebrow today at the description of the music as ‘half untamed’ and ‘half barbaric’ but the review goes on to say that ‘few composers have been greeted in so cordial a manner at a first appearance or received such an ovation as followed the conclusion of the Ballad.’^[1]The Morning Post, 15<sup>th</sup> September 1898

For anyone unfamiliar with it, you can hear it here (NB: I tried but failed to find a version without intrusive adverts, you can skip them after a few seconds, but it is, nonetheless, annoying. It’s the price you have to pay to watch brilliant music for free on You Tube):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbQEZjmaAPc

His offerings for subsequent festivals, ‘A Solemn Prelude‘ (1899); ‘The Soul’s Expression’ (1900); and ‘Idyll’ (1901), were less successful and have rarely been heard since. So far our searches have found no reviews of these concerts although we did find this programme for the 1899 concert.

A copy of the 1899 Worcester Music Festival Programme, detailing Elgar and Coleridge-Taylor pieces due to be performed. — ^[2]Source: https://3choirs.org/news/black-history-month-2022

This underwhelming run did not prevent an invitation to write a piece for the 1903 festival hosted by Hereford. It was a revival of that work, The Atonement, that drew us to Hereford cathedral on 31^st July 2025.

As we settled into our seats in the glorious nave of the cathedral we weren’t sure what to expect, the piece had not been performed since its premiere in 1903 – perhaps there was a reason for this?

We are not musicologists or music reviewers, we go to concerts to listen to the music and, hopefully, enjoy it. Coleridge Taylor’s ‘The Atonement’ kept us fully engaged throughout its 85 minutes, it was long but it didn’t feel long. The choir and soloists were excellent as was the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Samuel Hudson. We enjoyed it a lot and were glad we took the trouble to attend.

As we left, we chatted to one of the ushers who commented that the libretto (the words) was ‘all over the place’ and this is a comment that is reflected in an excellent piece written by John Quinn about the work in general and this performance in particular. Quinn’s article is honest about what he sees as the weaknesses of the composition as well as praising its strengths:

https://seenandheard-international.com/2025/08/the-three-choirs-festivals-revival-of-a-long-neglected-oratorio-by-samuel-coleridge-taylor/

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor died in 1912 and Quinn concedes that ‘had he lived longer, Coleridge-Taylor might have revised the work or, more likely, have produced much better choral/orchestral compositions.’ In fact, his best known work, ‘Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast’, was first performed on 11^th November 1898 just two months after the Ballade in A Minor received its premier in Gloucester and almost five years before ‘The Atonement’ premiered. It is tantalising to think what he might have achieved had he lived longer.

We can only repeat that, whatever its weaknesses, we enjoyed ‘The Atonement’.

One disappointment was that among an audience of around seven hundred we counted just three people of colour, classical music apparently remains a closed book for a great many people.

There was a photo in the programme that accompanied the concert showing Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (in the front, just to the left of the conductor) at the 1903 premier. It is a poor quality image but we include it for its historic interest:

The premier took place at the Shire Hall, a short walk from the cathedral. It is a splendid building and, although the decor is very much less elaborate than it was in 1903, it is recognisably the space where the above picture was taken:

Venue Image During our visit to Hereford we visited the Town Hall mistaking it for the Shire Hall (the Shire Hall would not have been accessible to us anyway). It also has a very grand interior space:

Council venues for hire – Herefordshire Council

Opened in 1905, it seems curious that Hereford should have two such similar spaces but this probably gives a good indication of the vibrancy of cultural life in the city at the turn of the century.

As this is a significant anniversary we hope that there will be other opportunities to celebrate this Black British composer. There has already been a CD released containing a number of his less well known works including Toussaint L’Ouverture (described as ‘a swashbuckling portrait in sound’ by the reviewer in Gramophone magazine)^[3]The CD is on the Avie label, AV2763 and, as is the modern way, can be listened to on Spotify if you have access to that service. It was reviewed in Gramophone‘s September 2025 issue.. Two pieces were also featured in the Great British Classics BBC Promenade concert on 5^th August (Isle of Beauty and The Evening Star)^[4]https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002gdll (only available in the UK) and, on 5^th September, we will be at the Royal Albert Hall to hear Sir Simon Rattle conduct another piece, ‘The Bamboula’. All BBC Prom concerts are available to listen to in full for, I believe, at least a month after they are broadcast. Do check out this glorious music and, unlike You Tube or Spotify, it costs nothing to listen!

References[+]

References
↑1	The Morning Post, 15<sup>th</sup> September 1898
↑2	Source: https://3choirs.org/news/black-history-month-2022
↑3	The CD is on the Avie label, AV2763 and, as is the modern way, can be listened to on Spotify if you have access to that service. It was reviewed in Gramophone‘s September 2025 issue.
↑4	https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002gdll (only available in the UK)

Ray Costello, historian, author and friend – 1945 to 14^th June 2025

p1050456-3 — Ray Costello in 2016, signing his book for us

Today we note the sad passing of Raymond Henry (Ray) Costello.

We first met Ray in 2016 when we attended an event in Manchester for the launch of his book, Black Tommies. We nervously approached him after his talk, he was a Professor and the author of numerous books and we were, frankly, nobodies. Many academics can come across as aloof and full of their own importance, Ray was neither of these things. He readily engaged in conversation and took a keen interest in the project we were working on about Black soldiers in World War One. He was warm and engaging and we stayed in touch. He may not have realised it but we came to regard him as a mentor and, between ourselves, referred to him as ‘Uncle Ray’.

We made several visits to Liverpool and he was always happy to meet up and talk. He treated us to a guided walk round some of the less well-known Black history sites in Liverpool and to a personal tour of the ‘Black Salt’ exhibition at the International Slavery Museum, an exhibition that celebrated his own book of that title and which he had curated. He also treated us to more than one meal!

Ray was keen to help us understand just how far back British Black history goes and shared his concern that, important though it undoubtedly was, there was a danger that focusing too much on the Empire Windrush might obscure all the history that preceded it. He also told us ‘you’ll never make money out of writing books’ (we were working on one at the time) and he was right about that!

Ray was kind and generous with his time and happy to share his vast knowledge of Liverpool’s long Black history. He had no particular interest in football but helped when we were writing Football’s Black Pioneers by mentioning that he remembered a member of a long-established Black Liverpool family had played for Tranmere Rovers. We dug into it and he was right, of course, and the intriguing story of Albert Payne emerged.

Ray visited London on more than one occasion to support events where we were speaking, he didn’t have to do that and we are so grateful that he did.

Ray had been seriously ill for several years so news of his death was a shock but not a surprise, it still came as a big blow. Ray was a titan of Black British history and we are privileged to have called him a friend.

Prince Albert (Jake) Jacob – one hundred not out

At Filey Plaque Unveiling, 1^st April, 2023

Born in Trinidad in 1925, Prince Albert (Jake) Jacob left his homeland at the age of 17½ to serve with the Royal Air Force in the Second World War.

In 1948 he married a white girl, Mary Gore, at Oldbury Register Office. They faced tremendous hostility from her family, not a single family member attended the wedding, and from their local community, but stayed together for many decades.

With wife Mary on their Wedding Day, 27^th April 1948

Jake celebrated his 100^th birthday on 9^th July 2025. We wish him a very happy birthday and it is our pleasure to share the story of a remarkable life.

You can read Jake’s story in full here:

https://solihulllife.org/2022/10/03/jake-jacob-nothing-was-easy/

In addition to the article on the Solihull Life website he is also featured here:

https://www.facebook.com/BBCAntiquesRoadshow/videos/jake-jacobmp4/1220562953104865/

And there is another interview with Jake and more photos here:

https://brumpic.wordpress.com/2015/07/07/from-trinidad-to-birmingham-by-carl-chinn/

With the King and Queen in the Royal Box, VE Day Concert, 8^th May 2025

Putting names to the faces

If you have ever had the task of sorting through old family photos, you will know the frustration of not being able to put names to faces. Perhaps you recognise your mother as a young woman, or some other relative, but who are those other people in the picture?

I have just been shown a photo of a woman seated with a young child on either side of her and a rather splendid teddy bear at her feet. Fortunately my wife is able to tell me that this is her grandmother with her two children. I have met all three, perhaps sixty or seventy years or so after the picture was taken, but without my wife’s prompting I could not have put names to their faces. Having your picture taken in a studio would have been a big deal and it shows in the slightly stilted poses, except perhaps the child I know as ‘Aunty Claudette’ who looks as though she might burst out of the shot were it not for her mother’s gently restraining grip.

Usually, putting names to faces is harder to do. But sometimes diligent research combined with a slice of good fortune can fill in the gaps. The photo below is of a group of ATS recruits who came to England for training in October 1943.

The photo, which comes from the National Army Museum’s collection, has been used many times but never with their names attached.

Until now!

This link will take you to an updated version of Audrey Dewjee’s article about the ATS women who came from the Caribbean to serve. The names of these nine ladies have now been included:

https://www.historycalroots.com/caribbean-women-in-the-ats-from-mid-1943-onwards/

We aren’t always so lucky. In October 2024 we published this photo of a young woman taken in Powys, North Wales, probably in the 1890s, and asked for help identifying her. So far her identity remains a mystery.

I mentioned that luck is often a factor, that’s what we need in this case. If anyone has any clues please get in touch.

Still Hidden? Black and Asian History in the Yorkshire Dales

On 19^th May I gazed out of a train window and wondered why I was making the journey. I was heading towards the market town of Hawes, deep in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. I mused that in the time it was taking to get to Hawes from south London, well over four hours, I could have reached the capital city of virtually any European country (Nicosia, Cyprus would have taken longer but that’s about it I think).

I had never visited the Dales before but when I heard that Audrey Dewjee was delivering a talk on the hidden Black and Asian history of the area it had seemed like a good opportunity to rectify the omission. But I was having second thoughts as I watched the countryside roll past. The view was nice, the sheep looked contented as they grazed their way towards someone’s Sunday dinner table, but could there really be much Black and Asian history hidden here?

When I first started taking an interest in this history, I had the pre-conceived notion that it could be found in London, Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff, obviously, and perhaps some other urban centres too, but with the help of expert guides (like Audrey and John Ellis) my understanding has blossomed. Historycal Roots describes itself as an educational site, well, it has certainly educated me!

Is there Black and Asian history hidden in the Yorkshire Dales? Undoubtedly, and Audrey’s talk did not disappoint. It demonstrated clearly that there is Black history everywhere if you open your eyes and take the trouble to look for it. She has kindly shared her talk with us and you can read it here:

https://www.historycalroots.com/still-hidden-black-and-asian-history-in-the-yorkshire-dales/

On this day … 1916

On Saturday the 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, the British Army sustained 57,000 casualties, still the bloodiest day in British military history.

In just under five months, The Somme would claim 300,000 British troops and an estimated 1 million casualties on all sides.

John Ellis has identified the presence of a number of Black British troops at the Somme, just putting ‘somme’ into the website’s search box brings up many articles:

https://www.historycalroots.com/?s=somme

But perhaps today of all days should just be a day of quiet reflection on the ultimate sacrifice made by so many men of all races, nationalities and creeds.

Lest We Forget

Burma, My Father and the Forgotten Army

We pride ourselves at Historycal Roots on presenting original research, new stories that you won’t find elsewhere, but occasionally we come across something too good not to share. With thanks to Audrey Dewjee for bringing it to our attention, we highly recommend this programme from the BBC:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b036x83s/burma-my-father-and-the-forgotten-army

Because it is on IPlayer it can only be accessed from within the UK and it is only available for a limited period of time (about a month), so do watch it while you can. The programme is presented by Griff Rhys Jones whose father was a doctor in the British Army during World War Two. Jones senior was sent to Burma as part of British efforts to fend off Japanese attempts to invade India. Key to the campaign was the use of Black soldiers from West Africa (The Gold Coast, now Ghana). Whilst I was aware of the Burma campaign, the fact that Black African soldiers played such an important role was entirely new to me. A number of the veterans are still alive and share their memories.

Griff Rhys Jones sums up:

A lot of people are completely unaware that a huge amount of the fighting was done by Indian, Gurkha and African troops.

Sir Geoff Palmer 9^th April 1940 to 12^th June 2025

Audrey Dewjee has alerted us to the sad news that Sir Geoff Palmer has passed. He was best known as a brilliant scientist but he understood the importance of Black History and devoted much of his later years to research and sharing what he knew. He was a great role model and inspiration for the young.

Now considered an intellectual giant, when he arrived in Britain in 1955 he was labelled “educationally subnormal” by the racist education system of the time.

He went on to become professor emeritus in the School of Life Sciences at Heriot-Watt University and this article about him was published on the Edinburgh University website in June 2024: https://global.ed.ac.uk/uncovered/1960/geoff-palmer

The BBC have posted this tribute to him: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c93lry1e6z5o

Sir Geoff told his own remarkable story in Black History Month 2024 https://www.agescotland.org.uk/news/1291-black-history-month-professor-sir-geoff-palmer

May he rest in peace.

Who buys a calendar in April?

Well, perhaps you should!

For the past four years Barbara Ellis has produced a ‘Lest We Forget’ calendar commemorating the contribution of men and women of colour from the Caribbean to the British war effort in the two World Wars. We have them all.

You won’t be able to read the text in the following images but they give you an idea of the overall approach.

We have kept them because, in addition to being a wall calendar for the year, they each contain a wealth of Black British history. For each month there is a meticulously researched article about a particular person or on a theme. Honestly, if you could take the articles from the four years and put them together, you would get a great book about Black British history full of stories that are new to you.

The calendar costs £10 but, for obvious reasons, Barbara will sell the few she has left for £5. If you are interested you can contact her here:

babarasellis4(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)gmail.com

Please be patient as we know that she is lucky enough to be on holiday at the moment.

While we have your attention, a subscriber asked if we could make the link to the list of prisoners of colour in Newgate gaol produced by John Ellis more accessible – your wish is our command! Here it is:

Black or of colour inmates remanded into Newgate Gaol between May 1817 and January 1882