The British West Indies Regiment

An elite regiment from the CaribbeanThis is an excellent regiment history of a British colonial force raised in the West Indies among the coloured population whose ancestors had in former times been brought against their will to the islands as slaves. Essential for all those interested in the British Army and its colonial forces. It saw service away from its familiar shores including the War of 1812 during the Napoleonic period and on the African continent in action against the Ashanti.This fascinating book reveals the exploits of an unusual regiment undertaking exemplary service in unusual theatres of operation. Lucia, Dominica, Barbados and many others islands. Vincent, St. Its service continued through many actions in the Indies themselves including service on Martinique, St. The regiments has a long career dating to the middle of the eighteenth century and the War of American Independence. However, the fact remains this regiment has been highly regarded and received the warmest praise from every commander who served with them-including the legendary Sir John Moore of Peninsular War fame, who believed them to be invaluable. This would be an understandable reason why such troops would not necessarily be of the highest order. Available in soft cover or hard cover with dust jacket for collectors.

This is a military-political history with a vital and all-pervading cultural and social theme which shapes the narrative - race, color and prejudice. But despite this, there is an extraordinary underlying theme of empire loyalty among serving soldiers - NCOs and private soldiers - and a growing grasp of political ideas and liberal democracy. And the loyalty to the British crown as an agent of the ending of slavery will be amazing to some readers. War experience was a powerful catalyst and contributed to a 'West Indianess' and desire for political advance. But even here the desire was for independence within the empire - a 'West Indian Dominion' as with 'elder sisters' of empire, the Dominions of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. The political and economic status of the islands was a potent reason for the 'colored contingents' enlisting - work was scarce - but a major impetus was the cultural concept of 'manliness' and empire-status - shared by George V, who insisted, against government pressure, on allowing West Indians to serve with white British soldiers. But all were volunteers and not enlisted men. The West Indies Regiment was small and its contribution in action limited, and restricted largely to Egypt and Mesopotamia, and with limited service on the Western Front. But it shows vividly the ingrained racialism and color prejudice of British society and the British Army and above all, in the insensitive omission of the West Indies Regiment at the Victory Parade in 1919.

This scarce work (in it's original printing) covers the period stated in the title in detail. Importantly, it has good coverage of several little-known operations in the West Indies and in West Africa. Apps: List of former COs (1795-1892), chronology of movements and stations.

Glenford Howe's social history of the soldiers of the British West Indies Regiment assesses the impact of World War One on West Indian history and reveals the true nature of military relations and the gradual decline in morale.

The contribution made to Britain's wealth by its Caribbean colonies is well known. Far less known - indeed dismissively ignored - are the contributions made over the centuries by West Indians to Britain's hard-won military victories, most notably in the two World Wars. At last this injustice has been redressed. In this single volume, the authors tell the compelling story of the Caribbean during nearly five centuries of warfare from the time of Columbus to the present decade; of how West Indian consistently rallied to Britain's side in its many years of peril, volunteers for service in its armed forces or more recently also for work in its wartime factories and forests. The book spotlights the deeds and hardships of West Indian soldiers long engaged in Africa and the Middle East, and of the many who enlisted too in the air forces and merchant navies of the Allies. And it describes the ferocious German submarine campaign in Caribbean waters, the impact that it had on life in the islands and how it was defeated; and it defines also the consequences - social, political and economic - of the World Wars on both the British West Indies and the United Kingdom. Above all, this book is written as a tribute to every West Indian veteran of Britain's wars; also to foster in the generation now growing up an awareness of the sacrifices of their forebears and pride in their achievements.

Buckley's acute analysis shows how the creation of a large body of slave soldiers caused dramatic modifications in the social order. To avoid conflict with police regulations, for example, it was necessary in 1807 for Parliament to manumit 10,000 military slaves by a single act. Slaves in Red Coats is the first systematic analysis of the effect of war on New World slavery.

History of the British West Indies (1954) examines the history of the islands of the Caribbean from their first discovery, through the periods of colonisation and slavery, and up to the beginnings of their status as independent nations. The actions of other nations are studied, as well as the British, as the various colonial powers vied for possession of these valuable possessions. Terrible cruelty was inflicted by colonial masters to the indigenous inhabitants, the slaves and indentured labour, and the worst of these are recorded in separate appendices.