On May 21, 2025, the Sierra Leone High Commission in the United Kingdom hosted a significant meeting with representatives from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to discuss plans for expanding the Freetown Memorial. This initiative aims to honour 946 Sierra Leoneans who lost their lives during World War I but were previously not commemorated.

The Freetown Memorial, located outside the Secretariat Building in Freetown, currently commemorates Sierra Leonean soldiers from the Royal West African Frontier Force who died in West Africa during both World Wars, many of whose graves remain unknown. However, historical records indicate that 795 members of the Sierra Leone Carrier Corps, who perished in East Africa during World War I, were excluded from the memorial. This omission was due to concerns that their rural communities would not engage with such commemorations and logistical challenges in adding their names.

The CWGC’s initiative is part of a broader effort to address non-commemoration issues in Sierra Leone, including remembering the Sierra Leone Carrier Corps, which played a critical role in transporting supplies during World War I. The expansion plan could set a precedent for other Commonwealth nations to address historical oversights in war commemorations, potentially impacting global remembrance practices.

This meeting aligns with recent activities by the Sierra Leone High Commission, including President Julius Maada Bio’s participation in the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, where he was honored with the title Tuioataga for his leadership,

Copy right –Printed in the Expo Times News on Friday, May 23rd, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)