The author, a specialist historian of the First World War with a PhD from the University of Kent, will be well known as the Curator and Researcher at Flanders Fields Museum in Ypres and as a University Lecturer. The British West India Regiment was formed in October 1915 in response to the patriotic fervour expressed by the West Indians and the insistence of King George V who personally intervened and over-ruled British officialdom who presented all manner of reasons, it seems entirely based on skin colour and racial prejudice, why contrary to The Manual of Military Law, they should be forbidden to serve with white British soldiers. By the end of the War almost 16,000 men from the West Indies had served in the ranks of twelve battalions. Most, some 66% came from Jamaica, and until August/September 1916 they only served overseas in Egypt and Palestine, due to it being considered unacceptable for “black troops” to fight white Europeans but by Autumn 1916 until the end of the War they mostly served in France, Flanders and Italy. Although many were trained as infantrymen they were officially designated noncombatants and in addition to guarding duties they mostly undertook a vast range of labouring tasks to satisfy the ever growing demand for labour to support the War in France and Flanders. They acquitted themselves well and, mostly through shelling, suffered almost 1,400 fatalities, almost 10% of the total who served. Over 700 died in France and Flanders, over 200 in Egypt, Mesopotamia, 160 in Malta and Italy and the balance in the UK probably mostly due to the influenza pandemic at the end of the War. At the end of the War the West Indians received the same campaign medals as their British comrades, and some were decorated for bravery, but there is no doubt that they were subjected to extremes of ingrained racial and colour prejudice and were not treated at all well. As a final and disgraceful mark of prejudice and insult to their loyalty the West Indian troops were excluded from the Victory Parade in London in 1919. The author’s frank and comprehensive analysis of the disgraceful treatment the fiercely loyal subjects of the West Indies suffered at the hands of the British establishment and military hierarchy makes for very uncomfortable reading in the twenty first century but, partly as a consequence, it is an enlightening and compelling read. Not so much a regimental history but more a social, political and military assessment which clearly shows how the experiences of West Indians during the First World War ultimately led to a desire for greater self-determination and eventually independence. Highly recommended.

Military Historical Society - August MHS Bulletin 2024

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Highlight: 'This sad but poignant history is well told and reveals an all-but-forgotten chapter of WWI'

Gun Mart Magazine

The British West India Regiment was formed in October 1915 in response to the patriotic fervour expressed by the West Indians and the insistence of King George V who personally intervened and over-ruled British officialdom who presented all manner of reasons, it seems entirely based on skin colour and racial prejudice, why contrary to The Manual of Military Law, they should be forbidden to serve with white British soldiers. By the end of the War almost 16,000 men from the West Indies had served in the ranks of twelve battalions. Most, some 66% came from Jamaica, and until August/September 1916 they only served overseas in Egypt and Palestine, due to it being considered unacceptable for “black troops” to fight white Europeans but by Autumn 1916 until the end of the War they mostly served in France, Flanders and Italy. Although many were trained as infantrymen they were officially designated non-combatants and in addition to guarding duties they mostly undertook a vast range of labouring tasks to satisfy the ever growing demand for labour to support the War in France and Flanders. They acquitted themselves well and, mostly through shelling, suffered almost 1,400 fatalities, almost 10% of the total who served. Over 700 died in France and Flanders, over 200 in Egypt, Mesopotamia, 160 in Malta and Italy and the balance in the UK probably mostly due to the influenza pandemic at the end of the War.

At the end of the War the West Indians received the same campaign medals as their British comrades, and some were decorated for bravery, but there is no doubt that they were subjected to extremes of ingrained racial and colour prejudice and were not treated at all well. As a final and disgraceful mark of prejudice and insult to their loyalty the West Indian troops were excluded from the Victory Parade in London in 1919. The author’s frank and comprehensive analysis of the disgraceful treatment the fiercely loyal subjects of the West Indies suffered at the hands of the British establishment and military hierarchy makes for very uncomfortable reading in the twenty first century but, partly as a consequence, it is an enlightening and compelling read. Not so much a regimental history but more a social, political and military assessment which clearly shows how the experiences of West Indians during the First World War ultimately led to a desire for greater self-determination and eventually independence. Highly recommended.

Brig (Retd) Clive Elderton CBE - Chairman The Military Historical Society

Article: 'Caribbean war heroes who fought for Britain - only to face racism and execution'


READ HERE: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/caribbean-war-heroes-who-fought-31097062?fbclid=IwAR0_UYvxTOpy6Qu_ktABN2KUEPjnXJNkwmClH6dc6I90lCY6PSPpP6mWhVY

Daily Mirror