This document summarizes the involvement of Black and Asian soldiers in World War 1. It discusses how troops from Britain and France's colonies in the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia participated in the war efforts. Specifically, it mentions that over 15,500 West Indians fought for the British West Indies Regiment across multiple continents. France also recruited soldiers from its colonies in Africa and Southeast Asia, including renowned Senegalese infantry units. Black Americans served in segregated US units as well as French units, including the decorated Harlem Hellfighters infantry and Eugene Bullard as a pilot. Over 1 million Indian soldiers aided Britain. Troops from various Asian and African backgrounds fought for multiple nations in theaters around the world during World War 1.

1. Slides by Phil Gregory:
http://www.blackpresence.co.uk
FORGOTTEN WARRIORS
BLACK & ASIAN SOLDIERS IN WW1

2. THE FIRST WORLD WAR
•
On 28 June 1914, in
Sarajevo, (Serbia)
Archduke Franz
Ferdinand, heir to the
throne of the AustroHungarian Empire was
assassinated by Gavrilo
Princip (a Slav nationalist).
Austria-Hungary blamed
Serbia for the killing.
2

3. EUROPE DIVIDED
•
At that time Europe was
divided between groups of
diplomatic alliances - AustriaHungary/Germany/Italy
formed the (Central Powers)
•
& Britain/France/Russia
(Triple Entente/Allied forces)
•
Each group swore to defend
their allies.
3

5. HOW BLACK & ASIAN TROOPS
BECAME INVOLVED IN WW1
•
Britain & France had
colonies in the Caribbean,
Africa & Asia, as well as
many other places.
•
Germany also had
colonies in Africa
•
Turkish Troops contained
an African & Muslim
contingent
COLONIAL TROOPS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE
AT QUEEN VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE
CELEBRATIONS, 1897. PHOTOGRAPH: HULTON GETTY
5

6. THE BRITISH CARIBBEAN
•
People in the British Caribbean had
a lot of loyalty to the the “Mother
Country”. When WW1 began. West
Indians donated money to aid the
war effort and also volunteered to
fight, joining The British West
Indies Regiment.
•
By the end of the war over 15,500
West Indians had joined the BWIR
and had experienced military
service in England, Italy, Egypt,
India, France, Belgium, Palestine,
Mesopotamia (Iraq) and East
Africa.
WEST INDIAN TROOPS
STACKING 8 INCH SHELLS AT A DUMP ON THE GORDON ROAD, YPRES,
OCTOBER 1917.
MOST BATTALIONS OF THE BRITISH WEST INDIES REGIMENT (BWIR)
SAW SERVICE ON THE WESTERN FRONT, MOSTLY AS PIONEERS.

8. AFRICANS IN THE FRENCH
ARMY
•
Like Britain, France was a major
colonial power. France drew
troops from all over
“Francophone Africa”. France
also had Colonies in South East
Asia.
•
Some of the most distinguished
African Soldiers were the
Tirailleurs Senegalais.
•
"'Black devils' the German
soldiers called them, when,
fighting like demons, they had
forced the Kaiser's shock troops
to retreat before them."

10. AFRICAN AMERICAN TROOPS
•
America was a racially segregated
society. Yet African Americans were
serving in the U.S Armed Forces.
•
When the United States declared war
against Germany in April 1917, The
U.S War Department realised that they
desperately needed more men to
ensure victory.
•
By the end of World War I, African
Americans served in cavalry, infantry,
signal, medical, engineer, and artillery
units, as well as serving as chaplains,
surveyors, truck drivers, chemists, and
intelligence officers.
*AFRICAN AMERICANS ALSO SERVED IN FRENCH UNITS.
SEE “THE HARLEM HELL FIGHTERS”, WHO BECAME ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED UNITS
WW1.
EUGENE BULLARD WAS A HIGHLY DECORATED AFRICAN AMERICAN PILOT IN THE
FRENCH FLYING CORPS. HE WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO BLACK COMBAT PILOTS IN WORLD WAR I

11. 369th Infantry (Harlem Hellfighters)
Eugene Bullard

12. BLACK BRITONS ENLISTED
•
Black Britons served in WW1 in
the Army and Navy.
•
Former Spurs Player Walter Tull
is the most celebrated Black
British soldier who achieved the
rank of Lieutenant.
•
A photo on the next slide shows
several black soldiers in the
Essex regiment, as well as a
selection of other black and
mixed race soldiers serving in the
British Army.

14. ASIAN TROOPS IN WW1
•
As well as Africans and Caribbean
troops there were also Asian
Soldiers fighting in WW1.
•
India sent over 1 million men to aid
the War effort. At that time India
included Pakistan, Nepal,
Bangladesh & Shri Lanka. Soldiers
were from many ethnic
backgrounds such as Pathans,
Sihks, Muslims & Hindu’s.
•
The photo here shows Ghurkas
from Nepal.

16. AFRICANS FIGHTING FOR
GERMANY
•
Little is known about how many of
Germany’s Pre-war black population
served in the Armed forces. Some
certainly did in WW1.
•
WW1 was not just fought in Europe. There
were theatres of war in Africa and Asia.
•
In Africa, The Germans used Askari troops
called”Schutztruppe”. They fought bravely
and were never defeated even after
Armistace.
•
This Photo shows an African who travelled
back to Germany after WW1 to serve in
the Freikorps in 1919.

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