A brand new mission appears to get well and reconstruct the presence of personnel of color inside the RAF in Scotland through the two world wars. PhD researcher Isobel Westbury will discover the variety of individuals linked to flying in Scotland throughout this era and talks us by way of the goals, and her hopes, for the mission which she’s starting this autumn.
The normal, and often advised, common narratives of the First and Second World Wars are inclined to downplay the contribution of Imperial and Commonwealth troops. In latest a long time, in depth analysis has been carried out focussing on different experiences and contributions, together with from ladies and ethnic minorities. But, in the case of aviation in Scotland, the presence of personnel of color inside the RAF has been largely missed. Consequently, these necessary contributions in each conflicts will not be mirrored within the histories supplied to guests on the Nationwide Museum of Flight, nor at some other aviation museum in Scotland.
My mission would be the first sustained try and get well and reconstruct the presence of personnel of color in Scotland and display the variety inside the RAF between 1914-1945. By immersing myself within the information held at Nationwide Museums Scotland and exploring archives throughout the UK and abroad, I hope to retrieve among the unbelievable tales of how and why personnel of color got here to Scotland, what their experiences had been, and discover their legacies. I’m additionally considering exploring additional into why contributions from personnel of color had been “forgotten”.
I’m simply starting my analysis and I’m very optimistic in regards to the subsequent few years. Nevertheless, I’m conscious of among the difficulties this analysis will pose. For instance, it’s tough to know the precise figures of individuals from throughout the British Empire that served within the RAF or to hint their motion throughout totally different airfields.
It’s encouraging that at East Fortune airfield in Scotland, now the Nationwide Museum of Flight, we all know from private recorded testimonies and from the airfield’s personal Operations File E book that individuals got here to be skilled from all all over the world, together with Trinidad and Jamaica. Their connections to Scotland vary from preliminary arrival, to being primarily based in Scotland as a part of a squadron, attachment to air bases or travelling to Scotland for coaching.
It is going to be fascinating to research this additional and, in the end, I actually hope I can make connections with among the descendants of personnel of color who’re linked to Scotland. If I’m able to do that, not solely will these testimonies be necessary items of oral historical past, however it can allow actual tales to be advised and household histories to be shared.
This analysis will broaden our understanding of the expertise of conflict in Scotland, Scotland’s connections with Atlantic slavery and the long-lasting results of imperialism. It additionally gives the thrilling alternative to establish any surviving materials tradition which might improve the collections held at Nationwide Museums Scotland. Subsequently, this analysis might be significantly related to up to date conversations round decolonisation within the museum sector. I hope my analysis will result in the re-examination of museum shows and the collections held on the Nationwide Museum of Flight.
Relating to museum shows and contemplating how Black British historical past can and needs to be communicated to the general public, I hope to collaborate with each tutorial and group teams. The concept of ‘co-curation’ in museums is essential and can make sure the content material produced on this mission is well-informed and most accurately fits the communities it can serve. It’s this aspect of the mission which excites me essentially the most. I’m eager to discover how museums should actively interact with their collections to make sure they continue to be related and dynamic within the twenty-first century.
This mission is a part of the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership scheme with the College of Edinburgh.
