World War Soldiers in Africa: Unearthing Lost Graves and Names
The world remembers the soldiers who fought in the wars, but the story of African soldiers who served in World War I and II often remains untold. Historians are digging deep into history to uncover graves, names, and untold stories of those who fought for Britain in Africa. These forgotten warriors were not only part of the history of Europe but also crucial figures in the histories of their own countries. It’s a story of lost graves, forgotten soldiers, and the need to reclaim what has been erased.
Uncovering Africa’s Forgotten Soldiers
In Africa, the story of World War soldiers is one of painful silence and hidden graves. One of the many families that felt the scars of World War I is that of Ogoyi Ogunde, who was conscripted to fight for the British during World War I. Ogunde’s family did not know the war, and his father’s plea to keep him home went unheard. Ogunde disappeared into the war, and no one from his family ever heard from him again. His story is one of countless others that have been buried by time and neglect.
Ogunde’s death left a profound scar on his family, and for years, his descendants, such as Patrick Abungu, have carried the emotional burden of not knowing what happened to their loved ones.
Abungu’s grandfather often recounted the tale of Ogunde’s conscription and disappearance. His family, like many others, never received word about what happened to him, leaving only haunting questions. The silence around Ogunde’s fate is emblematic of the silence surrounding many African soldiers of World War I. These men fought for the British Empire, yet their sacrifice was often ignored, their names erased from history. Today, Abungu, a heritage manager with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), is leading the charge to find these lost names and restore dignity to the forgotten African soldiers of World War I.
The Quest for Lost Graves
Abungu’s work takes him to places like Nakuru, a city in Kenya, where historians are attempting to track down graves that have long been abandoned or forgotten. The team of researchers, including Mercy Gakii and Rose Maina, is searching for the graves of 17 Africans who died during World War II. These men were buried in separate “native cemeteries,” but over time, many of these cemeteries were abandoned or repurposed. Some of the men are commemorated on collective memorials, but their graves remain a mystery.
In Nakuru, Abungu and his colleagues stand outside a metalworking yard known as Jua Kali, a bustling space full of welders and metalworkers. The team believes that the lost graves may be buried beneath this yard, which is situated near a Muslim cemetery. Though there is no visible trace of the graves, Abungu believes they are still there, hidden under layers of history. His team’s task is to find them, to reconnect the lost names with the places where these African soldiers were laid to rest. But the challenge is great. Many of these graves have been forgotten, erased by time, development, and the passage of generations.
The Legacy of the World Wars in Africa
The significance of World War I and II in Africa is often overlooked, yet these wars left deep scars on the continent. In World War I alone, the British Empire enlisted over 50,000 African soldiers and more than one million African porters who carried supplies across the unforgiving terrain of East Africa. The East African campaign, fought between British and German forces, was brutal. Many soldiers and porters succumbed to diseases, malnutrition, and exhaustion, while others died in combat. These men were not fighting for their own countries, but for a colonial empire, and their sacrifice was largely ignored.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission was founded in 1917 to commemorate all those who died in the war. However, while soldiers from European nations were commemorated by name on headstones in cemeteries across Europe, African soldiers were often relegated to collective memorials or unmarked graves. The graves of many African soldiers were never properly recorded or maintained, and as a result, their names and final resting places remain largely unknown.
The CWGC has acknowledged this failure, and in recent years, efforts have been made to correct this injustice through the Non-Commemoration Programme, which aims to locate missing graves and honor the African soldiers who were once forgotten.
The Racial Injustice of Commemoration
The lack of recognition for African soldiers in the aftermath of World War I and II was not merely an oversight—it was a result of racial injustice and imperial attitudes. In the early 20th century, the British authorities and the Imperial War Graves Commission did not prioritize the commemoration of African soldiers.
Some British officials dismissed the idea of individual headstones for African soldiers as “a waste of public money.” The graves of African soldiers were often marked with generic monuments or left without any recognition at all. This decision was based on a deeply racialized worldview that saw African soldiers as lesser beings unworthy of individual recognition.
The contrast between how African soldiers were treated and how their European counterparts were commemorated is stark. European soldiers were given individual headstones with their names inscribed, while African soldiers were often relegated to anonymous collective memorials. This disparity was a reflection of the broader colonial mindset that viewed African soldiers as expendable and unworthy of the same respect afforded to their European counterparts.
Restoring Dignity to African Soldiers
The work of historians like Abungu and his colleagues is an attempt to right these historical wrongs. Through the Non-Commemoration Programme, the CWGC is actively working to locate and commemorate the lost graves of African soldiers. Their efforts involve speaking to locals, searching through archives, and using modern technology like ground-penetrating radar to locate hidden burial sites. Each success brings them closer to fulfilling the promise made by the CWGC to commemorate every soldier who fought and died for Britain, regardless of race.
Abungu’s personal connection to this work drives his passion. As a child, he heard stories of his great-uncle, Ogunde, who died in World War I. Abungu’s journey into history and heritage management was motivated by a desire to uncover the truth behind Ogunde’s fate. Today, as part of the CWGC team, Abungu is determined to ensure that the stories of Ogunde and countless other African soldiers are not forgotten. His work is not just about finding graves; it’s about restoring dignity to those who were denied it in life.
The Slow and Steady Search for Lost Names
The search for lost graves is a painstaking process, and the team often faces setbacks. They travel across Kenya, speaking to locals, walking through fields, and hoping for a breakthrough. Sometimes, they find new information that leads them to a potential burial site. Other times, they meet dead ends. But each lead brings them closer to their goal. The psychological pressure of the task is immense, as the clock is ticking. The people who remember these graves and their stories are aging, and soon, their knowledge will be lost forever. Abungu and his team feel an urgency to complete their work before it’s too late.
Their search in Kisumu proves fruitful when they meet 82-year-old Jeremiah Otieno Sino, who remembers the graves of World War II soldiers. Sino’s testimony confirms the existence of a “native cemetery” that had been abandoned during the colonial period. This is a small victory, but it represents the kind of breakthrough the team needs to make progress. With each discovery, they get one step closer to fulfilling their mission: to ensure that the soldiers who fought for Britain in Africa are finally remembered, with dignity and respect.
A Promise to Keep: The Legacy of African Soldiers
The efforts of Abungu and his colleagues are part of a broader movement to recognize the sacrifices made by African soldiers during World War I and II. The CWGC’s Non-Commemoration Programme has uncovered more than 11,000 names of African soldiers who were previously unrecorded. The team continues to work in Kenya and other countries, including South Africa, Sierra Leone, Egypt, and India, to uncover lost graves and commemorate those who served and died in the World Wars. New memorials are being erected in places like Cape Town and Freetown to honor the soldiers who were once forgotten.
Despite the progress made, the work is far from complete. The team acknowledges that it is impossible to locate every grave and uncover every name. But the work will continue, driven by a deep sense of duty and a commitment to righting the historical wrongs that have been done to African soldiers. For Abungu, this work is personal. It is about honoring the memory of his great-uncle and the many other African soldiers who served and died without recognition. It is about ensuring that their stories are told and that their sacrifices are acknowledged.
Conclusion
The story of World War soldiers in Africa is one of loss, silence, and erasure. But through the efforts of historians and heritage managers like Abungu, these forgotten soldiers are finally being remembered. The search for lost graves and names is a slow and difficult process, but each discovery brings us closer to fulfilling the promise made by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. By restoring dignity to these soldiers, we not only honor their memory but also acknowledge the crucial role they played in shaping the history of both Africa and the world.
The journey to uncover the forgotten soldiers of World War I and II is ongoing. Every name found, every grave uncovered, is a step toward rectifying a historical injustice. As Abungu continues his work, he knows that each success is a tribute to the soldiers who, like his great-uncle, were lost to history but will never be forgotten again.
