DALRYMPLE – Vivian Edward George a.k.a. Edward Scobie
1800477 – V.E.G. Dalrymple – Leeward & Windward Islands – attested 30.12.40 – Ach/Pilot
P/O
[Source: NA AIR 2/6876 – Nominal Roll of Coloured Candidates, October 1944]
Flight Lieutenant
Edward Scobie Dalrymple
[Source: CG]
DALRYMPLE – Vivian Edward George (later known as Edward Scobie)
Service no. after Commission: 154843
[Courtesy AD]
Dr Edward Scobie – Authority on the Presence of Africans in Britian
This stamp was issued in 1998 to mark the 80th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force. It reflect the portraits of Dominicans who served with Honor as RAF Aircrew. From left to right; Wallace Wordsworth Plenderlieth, L.A. McKoy, Harold Cherberd Bryant, DFC, Clifford Severin, Edward Dyrample (AKA Edward Scobie). McKoy, Bryant and Osmunde St. Claire Alleyne were killed in action. Their names are on the cenotaph on Victoria Street Roseau next to the battlements of the old British Army Fort Young (within which a modern hotel now nestles – cannons and all). Every year the aged veterans (very few left), the Police, Scouts, Girl Guides and Army Cadets of the Dominica Cadet Corps parade by in honor to men who are considered heroes for the gallant service rendered in the fight for democracy and freedom.
[Courtesy Gabriel Christian]
F/Lt Edward (Scobie) Dalrymple, 1918-1996 Dominica. A distinguished journalist/historian Scobie was born in Dominica, a British colony. As a working journalist in London, Scobie became a correspondent for the Chicago Defender and for Ebony and Jet magazines. He enlisted to serve the British cause during World War II, serving in the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer. After the war, he contributed to many London newspapers, magazines and the wire services, and became a frequent broadcaster and scriptwriter for radio and television. From 1961 to 1963 he edited Flamingo, a monthly magazine published in London for African people in Britain, Africa and the Caribbean. Scobie was twice the Mayor of Roseau, capital of Dominica, and vice-president of the Dominica Freedom Party. Edward Scobie was Professor Emeritus of History, Black Studies Department, City College of New York. Previously, Dr. Scobie taught at Princeton and Rutgers Universities. He authored Black Brittania and The Global African Experience.
Promoting the Noble Heritage of Caribbean Air Crew who Served in Freedom's Cause in World War II - The Law Firm of Gabriel J Christian & Associates, LLC.
I have met Ed Scobie and know him personally as a great fellow Dominican who made a great contribution to the political and social development of Dominica. His contribution also included the field of journalism. His career as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal air Force should be recognised.
October 28th, 2008 at 10:04 amI knew Edward Scobie as a boy on Dominica when he was editor of the Dominica Herald. He later became a professor of African History at Princeton, Rutgers and City University of New York. In 1968 he co-founded the Dominica Freedom Party whose leader Dame Eugenia Charles later became the first female Prime Minister in Caribbean history. He authored Black Britannia and changed his last name from Dalrymple to “Scobie” after World War II.
There exist a Dominica postage stamp which features Scobie and several other Dominicans who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
March 12th, 2009 at 7:17 amAbout a dozen Dominicans served in the Royal Air Force, some like Clifford Severin having first trained as aircrew in Canada. We have found the actual grave sites of two were KIA; Sgt Osmunde St. Clair Alleyne and Harold Cherberd Bryant, DFC.
For purposes of your website being more detailed I offer the photos of Dominican RAF aircrew member Clifford Severin, who came through the Royal Canadian Air Force program. I also have interviewed the famous Squadron Leader Phillip Louis Ulric Cross, DFC, DSO (Trinidad) who featured in Ken Follets novel and Flt. Lieutenant Dudley Thompspon (Jamaica). I have copies of photos from their war service which may be added to your site. Both men are 91 and went on to distinguish themselves in law, diplomacy and public service after the war, as did several other RAF and Royal Canadian Air Force WW II veterans who became Caribbean heads of state (Errol Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados, Milton Cato Premier of St. Vincent and Michael Manley, Prime Minister of Jamaica). You have done service in memorializing these heroes whose service and leadership made for a better Caribbean after the war.
March 16th, 2009 at 12:10 amI am currently working on a Family Tree for SCOBIE, and Edward Scobie is one of the descendants. He actually has a Scobie forbear, and would have known some of his family history hence the choice of name. I would like to contact any of the Scobie or Dalrymple descendants connected to Dominica, WI and or Trinidad &Tobago, WI.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:45 pmI recently read an article in a Trinidad & Tobago Newspaper which reported that Gabriel Christian is writing a book about Justice Ulric Cross. I know Justice Cross, and he did mention that he knew Edward Scobie during their sojourn in England.
I am fortunate to have met Edward Scobie during his later years in New York.
Edward Scobie is my late uncle. His sister, Dorothy “Cissie” Dalrymple is my late mother. Thier brother, Maurice, is the last living brother who now resides in New York City. I am proud to see my uncle’s history so honorably displayed.
February 27th, 2014 at 6:15 pmDear Sir,
February 9th, 2015 at 8:36 pmI wish to hear from anyone who served with Cy Grant, in Squadron 103, WW11.
Or there family. I would also be interested in interviewing any Americans who liberated him from
Stalag Luft 3 near Sagan.
I am compiling a book on Caribbean War Hero’s.
I can be contacted on:
07904 098540
maureen1208@sky.com
Thanking you in advance for your help.
Maureen Dickson
9/2/2019
Hello Hans,
I am delighted to have received a reply from you. I have been working on this project for six years. Yes, Peter did pass your reply on to me, thank you.
As it turns out Don Towers lives at the top of my road, and around the corner five minutes away. I will let you know if he is alright. Thank you so much.
I did speak to Cy Grant once on the phone before he passed. I think that his story is an exciting one that should be told.
It matters that we tell this story, because there is little known of the men and women who left their own country some at a very early age to join the services, although their motives were varied the bottom line is they were fighting to keep democracy alive. This is a story that deserves to be told to the nation and hopefully on the big screen one day to demonstrate the courage of these young men.
Apart from the book, I am preparing a documentary with anther Production Company for the BBC.
Thank you so much for your consideration regarding the Grant family. I met Sami and her mother last year, when she gave me a photo of her father and allowed me to take a few for my documentary, they are very nice people. Cy had a full life, however, I have decided to tell the story of his war years only, with that in mind.
I am trying to put together contributors who are willing to speak about anything to do with CY’s war years. He has written quite a lot about it in his book, and of course I have a copy of your father (Joost Klootwijk) book which is of great value.
It would be helpful if you could send me details with regard to Al Langille’s family if they would allow it, as I would like to ask them what they do know about his war years, however little.
All being well we would like to pay you a visit to talk to you about the time in which you knew Cy also. I know that you have done something on him already; however, we are looking at reaching a larger audience, via main stream Television. (I have hopes for a film or dramatization at some time).
Your family have done such a good job with regard keeping these men story alive, that it would not be the same without your input.
You have helped me immensely, thank you so much.
Thanking you in advance, and hope to hear from you soon.
Kindest Regards
Maureen Dickson.
February 10th, 2015 at 11:58 pmmaureen1208@sky.com
10/02/2015
Hi Adam
September 23rd, 2017 at 12:35 amI am a cousin of your mother Dorothy. She stay with us in Cardiff many many
Years ago and worked in a hospital in Cardiff.
There are two of us left of the family my brother Edward Arthur Pemberton Nad myself.
Mary, Thelma, and Selwyn have passed away. We were all in Dominica in the
1980s and stayed with Ashton.
I was looking up to try to find my grandmother but don’t know her name.
She had died so we never met her.
My father was Edward Arthur Pemberton, your grandmothers sister.
My name is Edith Pemberton and I am on Facebook.
Hope to hear from you.
Hello, My name is Kadija and I’m a very interested researcher on Black British publishers. I’m very interested to talk to anyone – friend or family member who knew Mr Edward Scobie, particularly about his contributions as and achievements as a journalist. I’m on twitter @kadijattug or my fb page is sablelitmag (but twitter is better!) thank you- looking forward to hearing from friends and fam of Mr Scobie!
November 12th, 2017 at 11:50 pmDear Sir or Madam,
I am trying to trace the copyright holders for material by Edward Scobie held here at the British Library. If you have any information about his estate or if you can make any suggestions as to whom I might contact to try to trace his representatives, please get in touch. Many thanks.
Louise Kimpton Nye
May 9th, 2018 at 9:36 pmRights Clearance Advisor
British Library