Britain's Black Regiments

Fighting for Empire and Equality

Barry Renfrew

• Publisher: The History Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781803990309, 9780750994965
• eBook ISBN: 9780750995894
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

In three global conflicts and countless colonial campaigns, tens of thousands of black West Indian soldiers fought and died for Britain, first as slaves and then as volunteers. These all but forgotten regiments were unique because they were part of the British Army rather than colonial formations. All were stepchild units, despised by an army that was loath to number black soldiers in its ranks and yet unable to do without them; their courage, endurance and loyalty were repaid with bigotry and abuse. In Britain's Black Regiments, Barry Renfrew shines a light on the experiences of these overlooked soldiers who had travelled thousands of miles to serve the empire but were denied recognition in their lifetimes. From British campaigns in the Caribbean to the Second World War, this is a saga of war, bondage, hardship, mutiny, forlorn outposts and remarkable fortitude.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Prologue The Strangest Cargo
• Acknowledgements
• Part I The Wars of Empire
• Part II The First World War
• Part III The Second World War
• Epilogue ‘And to All the Forgotten’
• Bibliography