Citizens of Empire for Windrush Day 2020

Citizens of Empire by Eula Harrison

Passengers arriving in this country,
In 1948 on the SS Empire Windrush,
Did not arrive as fateless migrants,
Driven from their homes,
Or dying of hunger or thirst.
They came invited to work.
The country needed workers,
The call came from the Government here in London.

Leaving families behind,
They arrived eager to do their part.
All loyal citizens of the Empire.
Not entering by a back door,
But as British citizens,
Born under the British flag.
With head held high,
And a British passport in hand.
Their Motherland needed help,
To rebuild a country,
Devastated by war.

From all corners of the Caribbean they came,
Ready to work,
Filling the gaps left,
By those who sadly would not be returning.
Eagerly they arrived like those before.
Soldiers and sailors,
Fearlessly giving their lives,
In both world wars,
Defending king, country and empire.
The Head of Empire seated here in London,
Has always been revered by them from afar.

Never did they expect the unfriendly,
Unfair treatment meted out.
Given the worst of jobs, lowest of pay,
Suffering snubs and indignities.
Willingly they did the work offered,
Loyally helping the country to recover.
Still remembering families far away to be provided for,
While suffering the effects of unfamiliar cold and snow.
Getting frost-bitten and having heavy chills and colds,
From bad housing conditions and unsuitable clothing.
Working long shifts as drivers and conductors on buses,
Manning the railway and underground,
Building sites to name a few.

In time they were able to make changes,
With better conditions,
Securing a home,
Allowing them to be united with families.
Within this group of labourers on the Empire Windrush,
Were doctors and nurses, aside the hospitals across the country,
Nursing the returned wounded and shell-shocked.

Long before the Windrush came,
Thousands of our soldiers and sailors, airmen and engineers,
For army and navy, carpenters, masons.
How proud we all should be of them who came before,
Worked so hard for hardly any recognition.
Forerunners for others who came after,
They truly are our heroes.
Now these famed past workers - Doctors, nurses, and others - elderly and infirm,
Are being forced out of the country they worked so hard,
And fought for,
And helped to rebuild.
If we the people of those far off islands should complain,
Of disgraceful and unfair treatment,
Meted out to these elderly citizens,
Can we truly be blamed for complaining?

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Photo by Leticia Valverdes