Caribbean pols join in tribute to veterans
Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte.
Offi ce of Assemblywoman Rodneyse
Bichotte
A salute to Guyanese World War I veteran
Caribbean Life, November 13-19, 2020 3
By Tangerine Clarke
Guyanese journalist and legendary
playwright, Francis Quamina Farrier,
never described as a historian, but
deserving of the title, in his recent
Veterans Day article, recalled meeting
and interviewing Gershom Onesimus
Browne, the last surviving Guyanese
veteran and hero of World War I.
According to the prolific veteran
writer, Gershom Browne, who lived in
rural Bagotsville, enlisted for the military
before reaching the mandatory age
of 18. He was born in 1898, and died at
the age of 102 in 2000.
The army veteran who lived across
three centuries, according to Farrier,
who interviewed him on a number of
occasions — told of his tour of duty in
World War I, where he served in North
Africa and Palestine.
Gersham was one of many young
men from British Guiana who volunteered
and served in the war where 16
million men, women and children were
killed globally.
“I had the opportunity to interview
three Guyanese veterans of the First
World War when they were in their 90s
said Farrier, who stayed in touch with
Gershom “because he was more accessible
than the other two veterans.”
“I visited with him from time to time.
I also interacted with him on most of
his many visits to Georgetown. When
World War I started, he was officially
too young to enlist at age 17, but Gershom
was so eager to go to war for King
and country that he forged his age as 18
and was accepted.”
“I did not let my mother know that
I was going to volunteer, because she
would have stopped me,” he admitted
to Farrier, adding, “he traveled from his
Bagotville home to Georgetown, excited
about going to far-away lands.”
“He also spoke of an English woman
based in Georgetown whose job it was to
officially put out encouraging appeals
for young men to join the military and
to go overseas and defend Great Britain
from her enemies,” according to Farrier’s
interview.
Gershom was part of the British West
Indies Regiment, which was made up of
Guianese, Trinidadians and other volunteers
from the British West Indies.
“When his ship sailed from the Atlantic
Ocean into the Mediterranean Sea
and approached a port in North Africa,
they enlisted young men of the British
West Indian Regiment who experienced
a culture shock.”
“Gershom Browne who found himself
in many battle zones both in North
Africa and Palestine, spoke of some of
his comrades being killed. Fortunately,
he was never injured but he did put his
life on the line for his country and the
rest of the British Empire. At the end of
the war, he opted to return to his home
country. On his return after almost
three years in foreign lands, he got
down to being a productive citizen.”
He first worked in the hinterland,
but his inner calling to agriculture
brought him back to his home village of
Bagotville. “My ancestors are from the
Loko tribe in Sierra Leone in Africa,”
he told Farrier during one of their
interviews.
“We are a people who excel in agriculture.
A man in the Loko tribe who
has a good knowledge of the ramifications
of agriculture is highly respected.”
He also told Farrier, that the Loko language
was spoken by some of the older
people of Bagotville up to the 1950s,
according to the writer.
By Nelson A. King
Several Caribbean American legislators
on Wednesday joined the nation in
paying tribute to veterans on Veterans
Day.
“Happy Veterans Day to our city and
nation,” said New York City Public Advocate
Jumaane Williams, son of Grenadian
immigrants. “As the pandemic
prevents us from mass gatherings as
a show of support or appreciation, we
must be sure to convey our respect and
gratitude in our personal interactions
and, perhaps, most importantly, in our
policies.
“We do this not as a tacit approval
of war and violence but to pay homage
to those who answered their country’s
call to service; many of whom are disrespected
or abandoned by our government
when they return home,” he
added.
“Too many veterans see their service
met by a government not fulfilling their
end of the contract,” Williams continued.
“This is an injustice not confined
to any one party or administration, and
one we must correct moving forward as
we transition into new national leadership.
“I stand in appreciation of all, past
and present, who have chosen to serve
our nation in uniform, including within
my own family and staff,” he said.
Williams said Veterans Day takes its
origin from Armistice Day, born from a
celebration of peace.
“May we always work toward achieving
that peace at home and abroad!”
he said.
Brooklyn Democratic Party chair,
Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte,
the daughter of Haitian immigrants,
noted that there are over 50,000 veterans
in Brooklyn.
“They selflessly served our country
to protect our democracy, and we
must continue to give back to them
by ensuring that veterans have robust
employment opportunities and access
to housing, health care and education,”
added the representative for the 42nd
Assembly District in Brooklyn. “I thank
every veteran for their service.”
New York City Councilwoman Farah
N. Louis, also the daughter of Haitian
immigrants, said: “We owe a debt of
gratitude to our former servicemembers
and their families who made tremendous
sacrifices to protect our freedoms.
“Without their contributions, the
American Dream and spirit would cease
to exist,” said the representative for
the 45th Council District in Brooklyn.
“Despite fulfilling their commitments
in the US or abroad, many veterans
continue to serve our community – particularly
during this pandemic.
“They are our first responders, nurses
and doctors, small business owners,
educators, sanitation and transportation
workers,” Louis added. “Regardless
of their uniform, it is their courage,
strength and determination that are
admirable.
“After caring for our families, we must
also ensure that our veterans receive
the best care,” she continued, stating
that, through the City’s Department of
Veterans Affairs, “we are streamlining
access to healthcare, housing, employment,
food, assistance with VA (Veteran
Administration) claims and benefits.”
Additionally, Louis said Mission: Vet-
Check is an initiative “that will help us
end social isolation by creating a veterans
support network.
“This is how we show our appreciation,”
she said. “District 45, the City and
State of New York would not be where
it is today without our distinguished
honorees – the valiant veterans. Thank
you for your service, both past and
present!”
For Brooklyn Borough President Eric
Adams, Veterans Day is “an important
moment to reflect on those who put
their lives on the line for our country,
some of whom have paid the ultimate
sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.
“More than 54,000 veterans call
Brooklyn home, and so many of them
have continued to serve our communities
far beyond their military service,
including amid these challenging
times,” he said.
Adams said it is not enough to simply
thank our veterans.
“We must demonstrate, in tangible
ways, that we appreciate the magnitude
of their contributions,” he said. “That
includes providing them with excellent
health care, stable and affordable
housing, as well as high-quality opportunities
for employment and entrepreneurship.
“May this be a happy and meaningful
observance for veterans in our borough
and beyond, and may we all know peace
and prosperity in the year to come!”
Adams added.
Caribbean American New York City
Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Offi ce of Public Advocate Jumaane Williams
Gershom Onesimus Browne, World
War I veteran. Gersham family