New project: The role and experience of soldiers of colour in the First World War

This new project by Footballfineart, ‘The role and experience of soldiers of colour in the First World War’ (funded by the HLF’s ‘Understanding the First World War‘ programme), aims to focus upon the contribution made to the First World War by manpower from Britain’s colonies.

People from all parts of the British Empire contributed to the needs of the war, whether by serving in the armed forces or providing material and financial resources. Most of this contribution was of a voluntary nature. Indeed all those serving in the Indian Army were volunteers. People of colour and the regiments and branches of the services in which they played their part could be found in all theatres of the war. Black Briton Second Lieutenant Walter Tull saw action in France and Italy; African soldiers were also on the western front; four Indians and at least one West Indian were pilots in the Royal Flying Corps; sailors from India, China and Nigeria served in the Royal Navy. The demands of the war meant the forces personnel increasingly relied upon the economies of the colonies to feed them and provide many of the raw materials necessary to maintain and protect them, such as munitions, timber, cotton, meat, fruit and vegetables.

We will be holding workshops, talks, film evenings and creative arts sessions in the BME and White communities of the West Midlands – schools, community groups, church organisations – to explore the contribution of people of colour to the First World War effort.

Please see http://www.footballfineart.com/ for more information.

The image is an example of work being produced by young people in response to this subject, this particular example is by a pupil from Guilsborough School in Northamptonshire.