Current project — Pre-production
Donald Campbell — African & Caribbean Servicemen
A feature documentary following a 75-year-old former RAF serviceman as he travels the country uncovering the stories of African and Caribbean servicemen who served Britain.
No. 1 Army Film & Photographic Unit / IWM — Public domain- Format
- Feature documentary
- Status
- Early filming
- Presenter
- Donald Campbell
- Region
- United Kingdom
The documentary
The third project is particularly personal. We have recently started filming with Donald Campbell, a 75-year-old former RAF serviceman who is travelling around the country researching and documenting the stories of African and Caribbean servicemen who served Britain.
Donald has already uncovered stories dating back to the First World War, as well as numerous veterans from the Second World War.
The man
A former RAF serviceman on a mission
Donald Campbell is 75, a former RAF serviceman, and now a researcher with a single purpose: to find and record the stories of African and Caribbean men who served Britain. He is travelling the country, knocking on doors, opening archives and piecing together a history that has never been given the attention it deserves.
His energy and determination belie his age. Where official records are thin, Donald follows instinct and memory, finding families, veterans and communities who have kept these stories alive in photographs, letters and living memory.
The history
Stories that stretch back over a century
Donald has already uncovered stories dating back to the First World War, as well as numerous veterans from the Second World War. These are servicemen who fought, worked, flew, sailed and supported Britain through its darkest periods — often returning to a country that failed to acknowledge what they had done.
This is not just military history. It is social history, family history and British history, and too much of it has been allowed to fade. The film sets out to preserve what remains and make sure these contributions are recognised as part of Britain’s national story.
The connection
Why this one is personal
We originally came into contact with Donald because he was researching the history of my own father, who was a paratrooper. That personal connection has developed into us beginning to film his journey and the remarkable stories he is uncovering.
It is still early days with this project, but there is already a fascinating story developing around Donald himself, the people he is finding, and an important part of British history that deserves to be remembered.
“An important part of British history that deserves to be remembered.”
Smoggie Bloom — Early filming
Get involved
Help tell this story
If you have a family story, archive material or a connection to African and Caribbean servicemen who served Britain, we would love to hear from you. We are also speaking to commissioners and partners who want to see this history preserved.