The Jamaica Defence Force as a cultural treasure

Laura Tanna, Contributor

Most Jamaicans would be surprised to think of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) as a 'cultural treasure'. No, it is a military organisation, the nation's last means of defence against insurrection or invasion. But military history reflects changing attitudes and fortunes of the various people who have created this nation. The often neglected military history of Jamaica and the symbols which the JDF preserves can be downright fascinating.

A lot of people are unaware that they can go to the Cotton Tree Gate at Up Park Camp in Kingston and ask to enter so that they may visit the Jamaican Military Museum and Library, open to the public, located just to the left inside Camp. In an effort to bring to the public more information about the Military Museum's role in Jamaican life, former JDF Chief of Defence Staff Rear Admiral H.M. Lewin, CD JP, MBA and the museum's Oversight Board asked Merrick Needham, OD, MVO, a board member whose half-century association with Jamaica's military makes him a repository of all kinds of information, to write about a discovery that was made at Camp in 2006.

A Unique Union Colour? ... And Your Jamaican Flags is actually two stories. The first deals with Margaret Bernal's rescuing the 200-year-old Union Colour of the Sixth West India Regiment from destruction. Needham explains: "A Union Colour is one of two silk flag-like standards possessed by each battalion of an infantry regiment and paraded on ceremonial occasions, the other one being known as the Regimental Colour." He continues: "King's/Queen's Colours, being consecrated and epitomising the very spirit of the regiment, are regarded with the greatest reverence by every soldier in the battalion." And then gives us the fascinating background as to why these 'flags' mean so much to those in the military.

"From before the birth of Christ, the Roman legions had their famous eagles placed atop poles and each carried by a soldier. This was possibly the original forerunner of today's infantry Colours and cavalry (nowadays mounted in tanks rather than on horses) Standards. The purpose, from those long gone days of the Roman Empire until as (historically) recent as 1881 when the last British colours were carried in action, was to mark the position of the field or unit commander for easy tactical coordination in the days before backpack radios.... The worst possible ignominy was to allow one's regiment's Colour to be captured by the foe - conversely, the greatest triumph was to capture the enemy's!"

In this booklet we learn the history of the Sixth West India Regiment and how the Union Colour was saved.

Merrick Needham's work, published by the JDF, is worth the $300 fee for another often overlooked piece of history. Jamaica's planters obstructed the formation of the Sixth West India Regiment of Foot because they objected to the danger and embarrassment of having black soldiers based in Jamaica, most of them slaves purchased by the military. In a most important historic note, Needham writes: "The commendable War Office attitude of equal pay to that for whites, with white privates frequently serving under black non-commissioned officers, and even on occasion having black soldiers in charge of chained white deserters was greatly resented, and in the latter case was seen by a group of whites in Jamaica as a 'revolting sight'! Eventually, the Jamaican planters won the day; the British gave in and moved the slowly recruited regiment to British Honduras by 1798. However, so as to counter planters throughout the British West Indies, in 1807 Parliament at Westminster passed the surprisingly little known Mutiny Act, which freed as many as 10,000 slave soldiers, the greatest single release from bondage prior to, and more than quarter of a century before the general British Act of Abolition in 1834."

Some of these same soldiers had already assisted the Royal Navy in a dramatic battle with a Spanish invasion force of 31 warships, but you'll have to buy the booklet to read about that and the second story, which is extremely useful to all individuals and organisations flying the National Flag for it explains in concise terms exactly what the requirements are. You'd be surprised how many people and organisations today make mistakes when flying the flag. A Unique Union Colour?...And Your Jamaican Flags, whether as a reference for schools, libraries and businesses or in your own library, is worth reading and keeping on hand.

The JDF is also partnering with the Museums Division of the Institute of Jamaica (IOJ) on May 18th, celebrated internationally as Museums Day. 'Museums as Memory' will be a day for reflection on the war experiences of Jamaican veterans through their own words to cadets and uniformed school groups.

Museums Director Miss Dehaney says: "The day will begin at the IOJ Lecture Hall at 9:30 with an opening ceremony and viewing of the From War to Windrush...War Lest We Forget exhibition and then proceed up to the Military base for open discussion with the veterans, viewing of the Military Museum and a tour of Up Park Camp. The day will end with a ceremonial arrangement from the Military for the patrons at Up Park Camp."

The public is invited to visit the Military Museum Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no entry fee for children under 12, $40 for older children and $100 for adults.

All three exhibitions - From War to Windrush...War Lest We Forget, Guzzum Power: Obeah In Jamaica and Our People, Other Worlds are currently in the Museums of the IOJ, corner of East and Tower Streets and can be seen Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. All three may be seen for one entry fee of $300 adults, $100 teachers and tertiary students, $50 for children and $40 for children in uniform.