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Archiver > CARIBBEAN > 1999-09 > 0936313465


From: "Dorothy Kew" <>
Subject: Re: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 19:04:25 -0400


What is the source for Richard's statement regarding the B.W.I.R. and combat
duty in WW1? How then does one explain those sources which report the
actions of the B.W.I.R. in various theatres in World War 1? Are you both
suggesting that all coloured troops were removed from the B.W.I.R. before it
went overseas? As for the comment that they were not allowed to fight
Europeans (i.e. white), what were they doing in France then?

Dorothy

Dorothy Kew
Brampton, ON
Canada


-----Original Message-----
From: Edward Crawford <>
To: <>
Date: September 2, 1999 4:42 PM
Subject: Re: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment


>That sounds convincing to me. It was more or less what I was saying. Indian
>troops had an intermediate social position.
>
>I have the impression that in the US Army also Blacks were not used in
>combat on the Western Front in 1917-1918. There were a few all black units
>in 1941-1945 but again most Blacks were used in non-combat roles. It was
>only in the Korean war that the US Army became fully integrated. By the
>Vietnam war many people were only too glad to give poor minorities a
>disproportionately large combat role.
>
>Edward Crawford
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Richard Bond <>
>To: <>
>Date: 02 September 1999 19:55
>Subject: [CARIBBEAN] Re: British West Indian Regiment
>
>
> The Blacks, Colored and Indians from the Caribbean were not used in
>COMBAT against Europeans. Egypt is not in Europe. Jews are European in
>this context not Black or Indian.. White Caribbeans were treated as
>European as were the Boers. Blacks were in labor details or used in
>COMBAT against other non Europeans. Even if trained for COMBAT the non
>European units in European theaters were used as labor. There were even
>instances of nonwhite artillery men offered as laborers to relieve white
>labor units.
>
>
>==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ====
>CaribbeanGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw
>Listowner: Carol at or
>
>
>
>
>==== CARIBBEAN Mailing List ====
>CaribbeanGenWeb: http://www.rootsweb.com/~caribgw
>Listowner: Carol at
>
>
>
>

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