Commonwealth War Graves Commission apologise for 'wrongs of the past'

Tens of thousands of predominantly black and Asian service personnel who died fighting for the British Empire were not properly commemorated due to "pervasive racism", a report has said. The report cited racist comments such as the governor of a British colony saying in 1923 that "the average native... would not understand or appreciate a headstone". The Commonwealth War Graves Commission apologised and said "we recognise the wrongs of the past and are deeply sorry and will be acting immediately to correct them". Martha Kearney spoke to historian professor David Olusoga, who's television company produced the documentary Unremembered, that led to the report being commissioned; Claire Horton, director general of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; and David Lammy MP, Labour's shadow justice secretary and presenter on the Unremembered. (Image: A rose growing between the headstones; Credit: PA)