NIGERIA will be in focus on September 1, as the English version of the satellite News Channel, Aljazeera, celebrates the unsung hero of the World War 11, Samuel F. There were over 100,000 African soldiers, taken from British colonies, to fight in the jungles of Burma against the Japanese, of whom Nigeria's World War 2 veteran, Samuel, is one.
He was recently discovered by Aljazeera correspondent, Barnaby Philips, who traveled to Nigeria, Burma and Japan to talk to those who fought alongside and against Samuel in the war.
Nigeria's Samuel was ambushed by the Japanese, shot in the leg, and left for dead. Burmese villagers took pity on him, and hid him. He survived for months behind enemy lines, before the British rescued him. He returned to Nigeria as a hero, but his exploits were soon forgotten.
Today, Samuel is among the forgotten heroes of the Second World War, who performed heroically in one of the most brutal theatres of the war. Yet, their contribution has been largely ignored both by the British, and by independent African countries. Aljazeera's Phillips even found the family that saved the life of the wounded veteran in the jungles of Myanmar.
In the villages of Nigeria and Ghana, the veterans are popularly referred to as "the Burma Boys," as they brought back terrifying tales from faraway lands. Few survived the war; even fewer are alive today.
Checks by The Guardian revealed that, Philips had, in 2009, spent a week studying archives in the Imperial War Museum, looking for material on the Burma Boys.
"He was excited to come across a 60-page memoirs, written in good English, by a Nigerian, Samuel F, who had fought in Burma. His story was dramatic."
Philips had set out to find Samuel. After many false leads, he reportedly tracked him down. Not only is he alive, but also excited at the opportunity to speak about his experiences. This is unique account of an important piece of 20th century history.
Most of the film was shot in Nigeria where Samuel recalled his time in the "green hell" of the Burmese jungles. African servicemen discovered first-hand that the British were not infallible. The myth of racial supremacy was shattered and survivors were emboldened to think in new ways.
"We also hear from a few surviving British officers who commanded African troops as well as some Japanese soldiers, who fought against the Africans," says Aljazeera.
The Guardian