A new war memorial has been unveiled in Freetown to honour more than 900 Sierra Leoneans of the Carrier Corps who died while serving during the First World War (1914–1918), in a move aimed at recognising a largely overlooked chapter of the country’s military history.
Commissioned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), the monument features four towering glass structures bearing the names of the fallen, alongside a beacon of light designed to project up to five kilometres across the city.
Standing approximately nine metres tall, the memorial combines contemporary architecture with historical remembrance, giving permanent recognition to men whose contributions had not previously been adequately acknowledged at the country’s principal war memorial.
The project was designed by Lagos-based architect Tosin Oshinowo of Oshinowo Studio.
The unveiling marks a significant development in efforts to recognise the role played by Sierra Leoneans in Britain’s First World War campaigns, particularly those who served in the Carrier Corps.
The corps comprised African men recruited to transport food, ammunition, medical supplies and other military materials across difficult terrain where roads, railways and motorised transport were limited.
More than 10,000 men were recruited from Sierra Leone for the British war effort in Africa. Hundreds died during their service, many from disease during the East African campaign.
Despite their contribution, the fallen carriers were not individually recognised on the original Freetown War Memorial, which was designed by British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and unveiled in 1931.
Their names were subsequently recovered through archival research and investigations conducted by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission as part of its efforts to address historical gaps in the commemoration of Commonwealth war casualties.
The new monument is intended to correct that omission by giving the fallen a permanent place of recognition.
Beyond its architectural significance, the memorial also highlights the contribution of African personnel to the First World War, a history that has often received less attention than the experiences of European combatants.
The CWGC has worked with local heritage partners and other stakeholders in Sierra Leone to research the identities of the fallen and develop a memorial reflecting their contribution.
The monument is expected to serve as a lasting place of remembrance, connecting present and future generations of Sierra Leoneans with the sacrifices made by their predecessors.
