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Considering the soldiers were recruited from the West Indies, which at the time majority of islands were a part of the commonwealth and were British Territories, many citizens felt a sense of patriotism and wanted to take part in representing and fighting for their country.

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The West Indies are composed of islands, making a subregion of the Americas, surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, comprising 13 modern day independent islands and 19 dependencies. In hindsight, the West Indies contributed to the Allied war effort in World War 1, through offering not only men, but money and materials towards Britain’s cause. The West Indian authorities and charities contributed approximately £2 million to the War.

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Additionally, soldiers were convinced to sign up for the war with the sense that the chance for a better life was awaiting them. Not only did soldiers fight for Britain, but they fought for their civil rights. This applied to young men from the Caribbean, and regardless of the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies, many of the liberated people were still regarded as second-class citizens and were unable to purchase land.

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Men were also urged to enlist in the Caribbean by activists like Marcus Garvey, who saw a chance to legitimize civil rights campaigns. He thought that the Caribbean people would be entitled to more privileges from the British Empire as a result of their service as soldiers.

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Posters leaning towards propaganda were always a great contender to how the soldiers were recruited.

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West Indian men voluntarily signed up to become soldiers under the impression that they would have been treated and living under the same circumstances as British volunteer soldiers, but this unfortunately wasn’t the case.

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Even though many of the British West Indian soldiers were qualified for leadership roles, they could only advance to the rank of non-commissioned officer, even if their prior training and work experience were superior to that of many of the white commanders who would lead them during the conflict.

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The West Indies made a substantial contribution to the British war effort despite economic hardships, including the aftermath of hurricanes and a faltering economy, donating millions of pounds worth of commodities, including rice, sugar, rum, and cocoa, while the local populations faced price increases and wage stagnation, which ignited strikes and civil unrest in a number of islands.

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Caribbean soldiers faced systemic racism within the British military. They were often relegated to labor-intensive roles and denied promotions beyond certain ranks. The most notable incident highlighting this discrimination was the 1918 mutiny of the British West Indies Regiment in Taranto, Italy. Frustrated by unequal treatment and pay disparities, soldiers protested, leading to severe consequences, including executions and imprisonments.

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The experiences of Caribbean soldiers during the war, combined with the lack of recognition upon their return, sowed seeds of nationalism and anti-colonial sentiment.

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Young men of the West Indies being under the impression they would be given the same treatment as British soldiers, and due to this false assumption which turned out to actually go against them, their contributions were largely unrecognized by Britain, resulting in exploitation and a sense of undervalue.

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Economic hardships deteriorated after the war. The cost of living rose, jobs were scarce, and returning soldiers were often left without support.

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BBC Bitesize. “Why the British West Indies Regiment Joined World War One - World War One - KS3 History - Homework Help for Year 7, 8 and 9. - BBC Bitesize.” BBC Bitesize, 13 Nov. 2020, www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zdf4bqt#z7rwjsg. Accessed 20 May 2025.

“Celebrating Black History & Black Culture.” I AM History, www.iamhistory.co.uk/home/propaganda-how-it-was-used-to-get-black-people-enlisted-in-wwi.

Ferguson, James. “On the Home Front: World War I and the Caribbean | Caribbean Beat Magazine.” Caribbean Beat Magazine, July 2014, www.caribbean-beat.com/issue-128/home-front. Accessed 20 May 2025.

Gohrisch, Jana. “World War I and Its Aftermath: Reaching for the Past and across the Atlantic.” Journal of European Studies, vol. 51, no. 3-4, 1 Nov. 2021, pp. 304–317, https://doi.org/10.1177/00472441211033410.

“How the West Indies Helped the War Effort in the First World War.” Imperial War Museums, www.iwm.org.uk/history/how-the-west-indies-helped-the-war-effort-in-the-first-world-war.