Key facts
- The stolen plaque honored over 2,000 African-Caribbean prisoners of war transported to Britain in 1796.
- The prisoners, including Garifuna people from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, had resisted British colonization.
- The theft occurred days after the plaque's unveiling, which was attended by Caribbean communities and heritage organizations.
- English Heritage reported the incident to the police after discovering the missing plaque and vandalized bench.
A plaque at Portchester Castle in Hampshire, commemorating the story of African-Caribbean prisoners of war held in 18th-century Britain, has been stolen. The theft, discovered days after its October 9 unveiling, has been widely condemned by descendants and heritage organizations as an act of racism. The plaque honored over 2,000 Garifuna people from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, whose ancestors were expelled by British forces following resistance to colonization. English Heritage staff found the plaque missing and a nearby bench vandalized with hateful graffiti, reporting the incident to the police. Descendants expressed heartbreak and defiance, emphasizing their resilience and the importance of remembering this forgotten chapter of Black British history.