And they call them heroes: Key workers (please share)

After everything our key workers have been through, they deserve more from this government. Vote for fair pay in the May elections https://unison.org.uk/nobacktonormal

"Forgotten Black Heroes" UNISON Greater London Black History Month Event

All UNISON members in London are invited to attend this event 9.30 - 4pm on Wednesday 29 October 2014 at the "London Welsh Centre, Grays Inn Road (just down from Kings Cross Station)".

The event will "hear about the heroes in World War 1 and those who have influenced the way we live today in London". Contact your UNISON branch if you want to attend.
 
I would love to attend but will probably be outside London that day. I have never been to the London Welsh Centre either!

I hope that they will honour people such as 
Walter Tull who was the first black officer in the British Regular Army who was killed in action in 1918. Walter was also one of the first Black professional footballers. There is a Newham connection since he played for Clapton FC (Forest Gate).

Check out this post I wrote last year on remembering the "forgotten" Muslim soldiers, Hindu and Sikh who died in the First World War. I think that all Newham Children should visit the First World War battlefields and Menin Gate.

Royal Mail honour SOE Hero Noor Lanayat Khan 1914-1944

The Royal Mail have issued a new set of first class stamps on 10 "Remarkable Lives" who were born in 1914.

"The British-Indian secret agent, who served during World War Two, was dubbed the "Spy Princess". She was imprisoned, tortured and eventually shot after being sent into occupied France to help the resistance".

Noor was a descendent of Tipu Sultan, King of Mysore, one of the most dangerous opponents of British rule in India and like him a supporter of Indian Independence.

Despite being brought up as a pacifist, while training as a nurse in the second world war she felt that she was not doing enough "to fight the evil of Nazi" and joined the British forces.

She volunteered for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and was sent to occupied France to help the Resistance fight the Nazi.  She is captured by the Germans and sent to the concentration camp at Dachau where she was murdered with 3 other female SOE agents. Her last words before being shot was "Liberte" - "Freedom!"

Hat tip Shiraz Socialist. 

Update: fascinating comments on Facebook on this post from one of our top UNISON stewards whose Mum served with "Norah" before she left for the SOE.  They possibly trained as radio operators together. Her Mum later went on to win a "Mention in Dispatches" for her work during D Day.