BWI Troops
During the first world War the Caribbean sent a great many soldiers to aid the British war effort .
The British West India regiment fought in Africa and in Europe. They were generally used as advance troops and field attendants, they sustained heavy losses. Many of the troops who were wounded were brought back to Britain to convalesce.
Britain’s first black Officer was Walter Tull who also played football for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Commander of "Chaytor Force", New Zealander, Major General Sir E.W.C.Chaytor, pins on a decoration for gallantry under arms to an unidentified Corpaoral of the British West Indies Regiment - 1918.
Many of these soldiers were decorated for their bravery, and after being demobbed they decided to stay on in Britain.
Although once back in Britain they didn’t always receive a heroes welcome!!
Related Links
Related posts:
- Black British History – African Sea Farers Sailors from Africa, the West Indies and India have contributed...
- Black British History – Some Light reading * Staying Power-The History of Black people in Britain by...
- Black Soldiers in the British Army – John Ellis It would of course be easy to leave such men...
- The Visual Representation, Role and Origin of Black Soldiers in British Army Regiments During the Early Nineteenth Century. The Visual Representation, Role and Origin of Black Soldiers in...
- Discrimination in the British Armed Forces – 1914 Walter Tull was the first black outfield footballer in Britain....
To win we needed all the great men. These men were the heros of the wars that fought on foreign land.