BBC Teach > Secondary Resources > KS3 History / GCSE History > World War Two - The most destructive global conflict in human history

The forgotten story

When Britain called on the Caribbean for support in World War Two, more than 10,000 men and women crossed the Atlantic in response.

In Lancashire factories, airfields in Kent and forests in the Scottish Highlands, West Indians provided fundamental support to the war effort. However, few made it to the front line. This was because black West Indians faced another battle – against racism.

Why fight Britain's war?

In the 1930s there was labour unrest throughout Britain's eight Caribbean colonies. Strikes and riots were common as workers called for better wages, trade unions and a measure of self-government. So why were so many willing to fight for Britain when war broke out?

Mother Country

For many there was a sense of patriotic duty despite resentment of colonial rule. Britain still had great sentimental and symbolic importance. The colonial governments, schools, the churches and most of the media fostered love for the ‘Mother Country’. Placards were posted everywhere: ‘Do you want to help the war cause? England needs you!’

Escape

Unemployment in the Caribbean rose as the war disrupted trade, so many workers joined up to escape poverty. A regular wage for the duration of the war was attractive despite the danger. Those with a sense of adventure were also keen to seek out new opportunities across the Atlantic and in America.

Fight fascism

In the 1930s Fascist Italy had invaded Abyssinia (now Ethiopia), introduced racial segregation and banned mixed marriage. Meanwhile Hitler, who believed in an Aryan master-race, had come to power in Germany. Many feared a return to slavery if Germany won the war.

This video can not be played

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

Hear the Calypso song that poked fun at Hitler. Clip: Fighting for King and Empire: Britain's Caribbean Heroes, BBC Two

For King and Empire

Although the RAF and a few British regiments lifted their colour bar, the Royal Navy accepted no black crew. Troops raised in the Caribbean had to be in separate regiments commanded by white officers.

Skip image gallery

Image caption,
Thousands of Caribbean men joined the Merchant Navy. Colonial seamen were put up at segregated hostels in the UK but received just a third of a white sailor's pay. It was dangerous work – one in three colonial seamen were killed.
Image caption,
The RAF enlisted 5,500 men from the Caribbean, most to be trained as ground crew – mechanics and maintenance staff of the aircraft. Around 400 trained as aircrew of whom about 70 served as pilots and navigators. They earned 103 military decorations.
Image caption,
520 Caribbean technicians were trained to work in munition factories. Many were sent to the North-West as a Lancashire club had employed a Trinidadian cricketer before the war, so residents were thought to be more 'sympathetic to people of colour’.
Image caption,
Many Caribbean troops served as skilled tradesmen with the Royal Engineers in Lancashire, building bridge and pontoon segments.
Image caption,
900 forestry workers from British Honduras were hired for logging work in Scotland. They found the timber difficult to work, were angry about low wages and suffered illnesses due to the cold climate. The government disbanded the contingent in 1943.
Image caption,
At first only white Caribbean women who had paid their return passage could join the Auxiliary Territorial Service and Auxiliary Air Force. In 1943 110 women – including 30 black women – were recruited for roles such as clerks.
Image caption,
White West Indians who wanted to bear arms went to England while some 350 black Caribbean men enlisted in Canada. In 1944 a Caribbean Regiment of 1,200 men was formed. It was later sent to guard prisoners in Italy and escort some of them to Egypt.
Image caption,
There were also work opportunities in America: over 50,000 West Indians went to work in agricultural and war industries. Around 200 Caribbean women were sent to serve in the ATS in Washington – however they were all white.
Image caption,
The West Indian governments and people contributed well over a million pounds to the war effort and islanders raised funds to build 11 bombers and a mobile canteen. The Caribbean also supplied Britain with oil, bauxite, timber, rum and food.

'They thought we had tails'

Accounts from those who travelled from the Caribbean reveal they were taken aback by the cold climate and the evident deprivation in wartime Britain. They were also surprised by the strange reactions they received from some of the British public.