Stolen within days: plaque telling story of African Caribbean prisoners in Britain to be replaced

Memorial disappears after ceremony

A delegation including descendants travelled to Portchester Castle from Belize and elsewhere to honour the prisoners. The group included drummer Ronald Raymond McDonald, whose Garifuna ancestors came from St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The plaque was unveiled on 9 October, 230 years after a ship carrying prisoners was wrecked at Rapparee Cove in Devon. Many people aboard died. Days after the ceremony, English Heritage staff found the plaque gone and reported the incident to police; a gate padlock had also been removed. A nearby bench was marked with hateful graffiti.

A forgotten chapter of history

The memorial commemorated more than 2,000 prisoners held at the castle, among 2,500 men, women and children transported to Britain in 1796. Researchers say their story had largely disappeared from public memory.

Descendants condemn the theft

McDonald said he was heartbroken that people honouring their ancestors had been targeted. Garifuna advocate Princess Eulogia called the theft a sign of racism persisting across generations and urged people to reject hatred.

Queen Mother Chief Freda Paulino-Sideroff said hate would not define Garifuna people, describing them as resilient survivors. Her ancestors were expelled from St Vincent by British forces in the 1700s and left on Baliceaux. Cultural ambassador Emilio ‘Sásamu’ Thomas said Garifuna people would not accept victimisation and offered help to those responsible.

Calls to preserve the memory

The incident occurred during Black History Month and amid renewed debate about slavery reparations. Campaigner Sir Patrick Vernon said memorials representing Black British history had faced repeated vandalism over decades, and described the theft as part of the legacy of enslavement.