The Second World War was fought between the Axis powers and the Allies. The core Axis powers were Germany, Italy and Japan. The chief Allied powers were Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, the United States, and China, including the countries they had colonised in the Caribbean and across the world.  However, Allied Nations also included many other countries from around the globe.

Did you know…?

Approximately 20,000 people from the West Indies served in Armed Forces of the British Empire including the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force or the Auxiliary Territorial Service (the same unit Queen Elizabeth the Second served in). 

The Caribbean supported the British Forces, in both fighting and support units. Around 5,500 of these made the journey to Britain to join the Royal Air Force, over 300 serving as pilots, and approximately 100 as commissioned officers. Others served as navigators, mechanics and maintenance staff. Some Caribbeans also served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and were stationed in Britain.    

A great many Caribbeans served in the Merchant Navy.  Ships from the Merchant Navy ensured trade continued throughout the war and brought goods to Britain and other war fronts.  A Caribbean Regiment was formed in 1943 and the 1st Caribbean Regiment deployed to Italy in 1944. The Battalion did not see active service but did guard Prisoners of War in Egypt.

The United States of America created the Caribbean Sea Frontier (CSF), building naval and air bases to be used for training and defending the eastern coast of the USA. Many Caribbean people were employed by the War Office to construct and guard these bases.

Although the vast majority of individuals from the Caribbean who served in the British Forces were male, 80 women joined the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force and 30 joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch of the Army. Every girl in the Auxiliary Territorial Service was given an equal chance for promotion or taking a commission. They did a wide variety of jobs from nursing to manufacturing and maintenance of military vehicles.

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Caribbean Air Force personnel received 103 decorations for their contributions during the Second World War.

The Battle of the Caribbean was a naval battle fought between Germany, the USA and the British Empire from early 1942 until mid-1943. German U-Boats (German submarines), attacked Allied merchant ships crossing the Atlantic, targeting oil tankers travelling from the oil fields of Venezuela and the Caribbean. They sought to disrupt oil supply to Europe to prevent the Allies fuelling ships, tanks and aircraft, which were essential to their war effort.

A 150 mile strip of ocean off Trinidad saw the highest registered loss of shipping anywhere in the war. The USA stationed B18 bomber aircraft in Trinidad to counter the threat of the U – Boats.  However, it was not until 1943, when the USA adopted a convoy system (a method of many ships sailing together which made it harder for them to be attacked) that the scale of losses reduced.

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By November 1942, 270 Allied ships had been lost in the Caribbean.  This had a major impact of the supply of oil and bauxite, important in the manufacture of aircraft, and many lives were lost. 

SECOND WORLD WAR CONTENTS:

COMING SOON!

• Profiles People

• Living through Conflict

• A Fight For Freedom

• Commonwealth War Graves Commission Stories

• Commemoration and Legacy 

• Artistic Responses to Conflict

CARIBBEAN CONTRIBUTIONS CONTENTS:

• Introduction

• Economic Contributions

• Social Impact