Unknown Soldier: Celebrating Lilian Bader | African Routes: Fair Play 2026

A talk and performance celebrating Liverpool-born Lilian Bader, one of the first Black women to serve in Britain's armed forces.
About this Event

Unknown Soldier: Celebrating Lilian Bader

African Routes: Fair Play 2026 continues beyond the festival weekend with a special talk and performance on Wednesday 11 November. The evening celebrates the life and legacy of Lilian Bader, a pioneering Black British woman whose remarkable story began in Liverpool.

Her story

Born Lilian Mary Bailey in Liverpool in 1918, Lilian Bader became one of the first Black women to serve in Britain's armed forces. She was initially turned away because of her Barbadian heritage, but went on to join the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1941. There she trained in the highly skilled role of instrument repairer and rose to the rank of corporal.

Her achievements did not end with her wartime service. She later earned a history degree from the University of London and trained as a teacher, beginning a second career in education. She died in 2015 at the age of 97, leaving a legacy that spans military service, education and Black British history.

The event

Held on Armistice Day, Unknown Soldier brings together a talk and a performance to honour Lilian Bader's life in the city where her story began, and to recognise the Black servicemen and women whose contributions have too often gone untold.

Part of African Routes: Fair Play 2026

This event is part of African Routes: Fair Play 2026, The Black-E's celebration of African dance, music and culture.