Under Fire

by Mr Stephen Bourne

During the Second World War all British citizens were called upon to do their part for their country. Despite facing the discriminatory ‘colour bar’, many black civilians were determined to contribute to the war effort where they could, volunteering as air-raid wardens, fire-fighters, stretcher-bearers and first-aiders. Meanwhile, black servicemen and women, many of them volunteers from places as far away as Trinidad, Jamaica, Guyana and Nigeria, risked their lives fighting for the Mother Country in the air, at sea and on land. 



In Under Fire , Stephen Bourne draws on first-hand testimonies to tell the whole story of Britain’s black community during the Second World War, shedding light on a wealth of experiences from evacuees to entertainers, government officials, prisoners of war and community leaders. Among those remembered are men and women whose stories have only recently come to light, making Under Fire the definitive account of the bravery and sacrifices of black Britons in wartime.

Genres: History, World War II

256 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2020

Reviews

[Farah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book, I couldn’t put it down! The author shares the stories of black people that contributed to the war effort in all sorts of ways but were largely ignored by history. From the singer Adeline Hall who belted out tunes for four hours to an audience while bombs rained down around the theatre, to the brave pilots like Ulric Cross that battled against the colour bar to take to the skies - this book has no shortage of heroes. Wonderfully entertaining, thoroughly researched and well written. A must-read, highly recommend.

[reneeNaDaCherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Under 🔥: Black 🇬🇧 In Wartime 1939-44

The author Stephen Bourne did a great job bringing history to life. The written word tells us/the pictures show us many brave women and men of color who chose to fight against the Germans in WWII. Viva la 🇫🇷! This novel is useful knowledge for eveyone to read and reflect upon. Yes, I would definitely recommend this 📖.

9/25/2021.

[Luisa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating insights into a wide range of topics. An aspect of British history which is too often not accorded the recognition it deserved, this book highlights the invaluable contributions made by so many black and mixed race people to the war effort. It also offers insights into their varied reasons for volunteering to serve a “mother country” which didn’t always treat them as they deserved, and what might have been their fate had Britain lost the war. Thought-provoking and important.

[Ralph Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An invaluable historical record that somehow still feels patriotic.