FORGOTTEN WARRIORSFORGOTTEN WARRIORSBLACK & ASIAN SOLDIERS IN WW1 BLACK & ASIAN SOLDIERS IN WW1

Slides by Phil Gregory:Slides by Phil Gregory: http://www.blackpresence.co.http://www.blackpresence.co.ukuk

THE FIRST WORLD WARTHE FIRST WORLD WAR

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

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EUROPE DIVIDEDEUROPE DIVIDED

• At that time Europe was At that time Europe was divided between groups of divided between groups of diplomatic alliances - diplomatic alliances - Austria-Hungary/Germany/Austria-Hungary/Germany/Italy formed the (Central Italy formed the (Central Powers) Powers)

• & Britain/France/Russia & Britain/France/Russia (Triple Entente/Allied (Triple Entente/Allied forces)forces)

• Each group swore to Each group swore to defend their allies.defend their allies.

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HOW BLACK & ASIAN TROOPS HOW BLACK & ASIAN TROOPS BECAME INVOLVED IN WW1BECAME INVOLVED IN WW1

• Britain & France had Britain & France had colonies in the colonies in the Caribbean, Africa & Caribbean, Africa & Asia, as well as many Asia, as well as many other places.other places.

• Germany also had Germany also had colonies in Africacolonies in Africa

• Turkish Troops Turkish Troops contained an African & contained an African & Muslim contingentMuslim contingent

COLONIAL TROOPS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE COLONIAL TROOPS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE AT QUEEN VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE AT QUEEN VICTORIA'S DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS, 1897. PHOTOGRAPH: HULTON GETTYCELEBRATIONS, 1897. PHOTOGRAPH: HULTON GETTY

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THE BRITISH CARIBBEANTHE BRITISH CARIBBEAN

• People in the British Caribbean People in the British Caribbean had a lot of loyalty to the the had a lot of loyalty to the the “Mother Country”. When WW1 “Mother Country”. When WW1 began. West Indians donated began. West Indians donated money to aid the war effort money to aid the war effort and also volunteered to fight, and also volunteered to fight, joining The British West Indies joining The British West Indies Regiment.Regiment.

• By the end of the war over By the end of the war over 15,500 West Indians had joined 15,500 West Indians had joined the BWIR and had experienced the BWIR and had experienced military service in England, military service in England, Italy, Egypt, India, France, Italy, Egypt, India, France, Belgium, Palestine, Belgium, Palestine, Mesopotamia (Iraq) and East Mesopotamia (Iraq) and East Africa.Africa.

WEST INDIAN TROOPSWEST INDIAN TROOPSSTACKING 8 INCH SHELLS AT A DUMP ON THE GORDON ROAD, YPRES,STACKING 8 INCH SHELLS AT A DUMP ON THE GORDON ROAD, YPRES, OCTOBER 1917.OCTOBER 1917.

MOST BATTALIONS OF THE BRITISH WEST INDIES REGIMENT (BWIR) MOST BATTALIONS OF THE BRITISH WEST INDIES REGIMENT (BWIR) SAW SERVICE ON THE WESTERN FRONT, MOSTLY AS PIONEERS.SAW SERVICE ON THE WESTERN FRONT, MOSTLY AS PIONEERS.

AFRICANS IN THE FRENCH ARMYAFRICANS IN THE FRENCH ARMY

• Like Britain, France was a Like Britain, France was a major colonial power. France major colonial power. France drew troops from all over drew troops from all over “Francophone Africa”. “Francophone Africa”. France also had Colonies in France also had Colonies in South East Asia.South East Asia.

• Some of the most Some of the most distinguished African distinguished African Soldiers were the Tirailleurs Soldiers were the Tirailleurs Senegalais.Senegalais.

• "'Black devils' the German "'Black devils' the German soldiers called them, when, soldiers called them, when, fighting like demons, they fighting like demons, they had forced the Kaiser's had forced the Kaiser's shock troops to retreat shock troops to retreat before them."before them."

AFRICAN AMERICAN TROOPSAFRICAN AMERICAN TROOPS• America was a racially segregated America was a racially segregated

society. Yet African Americans society. Yet African Americans were serving in the U.S Armed were serving in the U.S Armed Forces.Forces.

• When the United States declared When the United States declared war against Germany in April war against Germany in April 1917, The U.S War Department 1917, The U.S War Department realised that they desperately realised that they desperately needed more men to ensure needed more men to ensure victory.victory.

• By the end of World War I, African By the end of World War I, African Americans served in cavalry, Americans served in cavalry, infantry, signal, medical, infantry, signal, medical, engineer, and artillery units, as engineer, and artillery units, as well as serving as chaplains, well as serving as chaplains, surveyors, truck drivers, surveyors, truck drivers, chemists, and intelligence chemists, and intelligence officers. officers. *AFRICAN AMERICANS ALSO SERVED IN FRENCH UNITS. *AFRICAN AMERICANS ALSO SERVED IN FRENCH UNITS. SEE “THE HARLEM HELL FIGHTERS”, WHO BECAME ONE OF THE MOST DECORATED UNITS WW1. 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 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 IFRENCH FLYING CORPS. HE WAS ONE OF ONLY TWO BLACK COMBAT PILOTS IN WORLD WAR I

Eugene BullardEugene BullardEugene BullardEugene Bullard

369th Infantry (Harlem 369th Infantry (Harlem Hellfighters)Hellfighters)

369th Infantry (Harlem 369th Infantry (Harlem Hellfighters)Hellfighters)

BLACK BRITONS ENLISTEDBLACK BRITONS ENLISTED

• Black Britons served in WW1 Black Britons served in WW1 in the Army and Navy.in the Army and Navy.

• Former Spurs Player Walter Former Spurs Player Walter Tull is the most celebrated Tull is the most celebrated Black British soldier who Black British soldier who achieved the rank of achieved the rank of Lieutenant.Lieutenant.

• A photo on the next slide A photo on the next slide shows several black soldiers shows several black soldiers in the Essex regiment, as well in the Essex regiment, as well as a selection of other black as a selection of other black and mixed race soldiers and mixed race soldiers serving in the British Army.serving in the British Army.

ASIAN TROOPS IN WW1ASIAN TROOPS IN WW1

• As well as Africans and As well as Africans and Caribbean troops there were Caribbean troops there were also Asian Soldiers fighting in also Asian Soldiers fighting in WW1.WW1.

• India sent over 1 million men India sent over 1 million men to aid the War effort. At that to aid the War effort. At that time India included Pakistan, time India included Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh & Shri Nepal, Bangladesh & Shri Lanka. Soldiers were from Lanka. Soldiers were from many ethnic backgrounds such many ethnic backgrounds such as Pathans, Sihks, Muslims & as Pathans, Sihks, Muslims & Hindu’s.Hindu’s.

• The photo here shows The photo here shows Ghurkas from Nepal. Ghurkas from Nepal.

AFRICANS FIGHTING FOR AFRICANS FIGHTING FOR GERMANYGERMANY

• Little is known about how many of Little is known about how many of Germany’s Pre-war black population Germany’s Pre-war black population served in the Armed forces. Some served in the Armed forces. Some certainly did in WW1. certainly did in WW1.

• WW1 was not just fought in Europe. WW1 was not just fought in Europe. There were theatres of war in Africa There were theatres of war in Africa and Asia. and Asia.

• In Africa, The Germans used Askari In Africa, The Germans used Askari troops called”Schutztruppe”. They troops called”Schutztruppe”. They fought bravely and were never fought bravely and were never defeated even after Armistace.defeated even after Armistace.

• This Photo shows an African who This Photo shows an African who travelled back to Germany after WW1 travelled back to Germany after WW1 to serve in the Freikorps in 1919.to serve in the Freikorps in 1919.

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