British Empire

The colonies of the British Empire sent more than 2.5 million men to fight for Britain's cause during World War I. India was the largest single provider, contributing nearly 1.3 million men. It is estimated that Canada sent some 418,000 men overseas, Australia contributed 322,000, South Africa more than 146,000, New Zealand some 124,000, and Rhodesia over 6,800. Large numbers were also provided by the West Indies and other parts of Africa and Asia. Colonial troops were deployed on most of the major battlefronts: the Western Front in France, South West Africa (now Namibia), Egypt, Mesopotamia (modern Iraq), Palestine, Egypt, and Gallipoli in Turkey. They also served in the Royal Navy and the Royal Flying Corps. Figures vary, but by the end of the war, while Britain had lost an estimated 702,500 men, the colonial armies combined had lost over 206,000.

Strength of support Soon after Britain entered World War I in August 1914, men from British colonies all over the world rushed to volunteer. Although the war was being fought many thousands of kilometres away, Britain's colonies did not feel any less involved. Britain, the colonial mother country, needed their help, and the strong spirit of loyalty within the British Empire made Germany the enemy of all the Empire's subjects. This feeling of togetherness was particularly strong in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, where an estimated 10% of adult males volunteered, and Rhodesia, where it is suggested that about 50% of all adult white males went to war. Support was also prevalent among many, but not all, of the people of India and among English-speaking South Africans. The Indian Army was drawn from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Burma, but many anti-British radicals in India took the opportunity to organize against the Empire in India during the war. In South Africa the Boer population opposed any attack on South West Africa, which was under German control. The Boers were of Dutch descent and had been given military and financial aid by the German government during the Boer War (1899-1902) against Britain.

British attitudes to the colonists Troops from the colonies included white colonists, or their descendants, and colonized peoples. Cultural misunderstandings were regular. The superior attitudes adopted by some of the aristocratic British officers towards the colonial troops under their command caused resentment, and bitterness rose at their perceived recklessness when using colonial forces. During the fruitless Gallipoli campaign the death rate among the ANZAC troops (combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) exceeded a third. It is estimated that over 70,000 Indian soldiers served on the Western Front in France, of whom about 21,500 were either killed or wounded. Many highly trained and skilled soldiers of the Indian Army were treated as little more than labourers. The white commanders refused to let most of these Indian troops serve in the trenches, confining them to tasks such as moving weapons up to the front, even though they showed themselves as brave and committed as their white counterparts when they were allowed to fight. Many of the thousands of black volunteer soldiers who came from colonies such as Jamaica, Barbados, Kenya, and Nigeria suffered the same prejudice. Black American soldiers received similar treatment from their white officers.

Impact on the war The support of nations not immediately involved in the war was crucial to the eventual victory of the Triple Entente (Britain, France, and Russia) and its allies over the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and their allies). Britain was able to campaign over many more parts of the world than would otherwise have been possible because of the involvement of its colonies. The combined effort of the British Empire reflects the truly global nature of World War I.