Social Impact
In common with much of the rest of the British Empire, and the world, the Second World War had a profound social impact across the Caribbean.
This increased the need to produce additional food and materials for export to support the Allied Forces, while maintaining domestic consumption. These pressures, coupled with the disruption to imports to the Caribbean caused by the war, meant that many Caribbean nations suffered from food shortages (the Caribbean suffered stresses on the home-front just as Britain did). Additionally the supply of personnel to support the war economies of the British Empire and the USA, as well as the Armed Forces, caused labour shortages in the Caribbean. This problem was made worse by the arrival of US troops in the Caribbean because many local people assisted with building, guarding and supplying these bases.
People from the Caribbean were important to the Allied war effort, many working overseas in Europe and America in factories, airfields, and even in forestry.
Approximately 20,000 Carribeans served in the Armed Forces. In the Army there was no specific Caribbean Regiment until 1943. The West Indies Regiment had been disbanded in the 1920s as the traditional threats had diminished and Britain experienced financial difficulties. The West Indies proved very loyal and were determined to raise troops so that they could ‘do their bit’ in fighting the axis powers.
Raising the Caribbean Regiment was fraught with difficulty and this was due in part to indifference and backward-looking policies in parts of the War Office (a predecessor of the Ministry of Defence). These exposed some of the less attractive sides of British attitudes to race. Interestingly the Colonial Office (predecessor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office) was instant that a Caribbean Regiment be formed.
When recruiting for the Armed Forces, the War Office limited the number of Europeans who could be recruited. East Africa Command took the view that the people it was recruiting would therefore need to be educated as they would be filling roles such as clerks, medical orderlies, signalers, teachers, censors, gunners, engineers and tradespeople, in short, all the types of jobs and skills that are needed to make an Army function. The East Africa Command formed its own education corps to undertake this and in so doing the Army became the third largest educational institution in the region. The Army paid better wages and offered better opportunities than most other institutions and employers in Africa.
The reasons people joined armies were similar in Africa as they were across the world. In addition to conscription, this included fear, a sense of loyalty to their country, betterment of their lives, opportunities to access education, higher wages and to do something they perceived to be exciting and meaningful. Propaganda was used which caused people to fear a threat to their communities and encouraged individuals to join and make a difference in the world.
The countries that participated alongside Allied troops were key to winning the Second World War and the outcome may have been different without their support, militarily, economically and socially.
After the war was over, the sense of pride, organisation, education and structure led to the beginnings of the independence of many countries.
With all of this information in mind, could you create a poem, speech, song or piece of artwork that recognises and celebrates the contributions made by African soldiers and communities? Be sure to enter it into our International Competition and tick the ‘A Fight for Freedom’ box on the entry form. We can’t wait to see the thought-provoking work that will be created.
SECOND WORLD WAR CONTENTS:
COMING SOON!
Profiles People
Living through Conflict
Commemoration and Legacy
Artistic Responses to Conflict