colonial

At the weekend, Burkina Faso's foreign minister praised Russia and said it was a more suitable partner than the former colonial power France.

Each poppy represents the life of a British or colonial soldier who died fighting in World War One.

He continued serving in the RAF in the colonial office and was mainly responsible for the welfare of Caribbean men.

He also served as a lieutenant in the Gurkha Rifles, fighting in the Malayan Emergency, a communist-inspired revolt against the British colonial authorities.

India had gained independence from British colonial rule only in 1947 and the country was struggling to feed its population and build enough schools and hospitals.