Caribbean participants

[Amrit]

Not bad for such a small population.

Caribbean participants

Out of a population of 14 million in the Caribbean colonies of the British Commonwealth, about 16,000 West Indians volunteered for service alongside the British during the Second World War. Of these, well over a 100 were women who were posted overseas - 80 chose the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) for their contribution, while around 30 joined the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service).

Around 6,000 West Indians served with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force, in roles from fighter pilots to bomb aimers, air gunners to ground staff and administration.

Thousands of West Indian seamen made their contributions in one of the Second World War’s most dangerous services, the Merchant Navy - one-third of all merchant seamen were to die during the war.

One thousand volunteers for army service were formed into the Caribbean Regiment, which went overseas in 1944 and saw service in the Middle East and Italy. In addition, West Indians served in the Royal Engineers as highly skilled technicians.

Upwards of 40,000 West Indians opted to join the various branches of the civilian war effort in the United States.

236 Caribbean volunteers were killed or reported missing during the Second World War; 265 were wounded.

Caribbean air force personnel received 103 decorations.

[Jerome]

Not just Men but also interest free loans - as this in this 29/11/41 article I found in the Trinidad Guardian yesterday:

[Jerome]

I see that the folks at the Battle of Britain London Monument has added a 2nd West Indian to their list - Aubrey Inniss from Barbados. He joins H Capstick from Jamaica

[Amrit]

His entry in TMoTBoB isn't very long and the photo is rather poor but....

I'll post his entry from Aces High later

[Hugh]

Thousands of West Indian seamen made their contributions in one of the Second World War’s most dangerous services, the Merchant Navy - one-third of all merchant seamen were to die during the war.

Lest we forget
Regards

[Jerome]

While I cannot say with any certainty about the rest of the West Indies, certainly in Trinidad no where are their names commemorated on our National Monument - except in error where two seamen are classed as RN whereas CWGC lists them as MN (for WW1) and of course absolutely nothing about WW2.

Recently the various veterans organisations and myself had a meeting with our Line Minister and she was very receptive to the pitch I made on including all our war dead in our Memorial Park. Alas, with general elections now in our immediate future, things have come to a screeching halt. Depending on the outcome, we either move forward or start anew

[Oggie2620]

Jerome
Might be worth you visiting Rootschat. There are a couple of threads on there that need your Caribbean knowledge....
Dee