Africa
Britain's colonies in West Africa, Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and Nigeria also served as staging posts and military bases during World War Two. Aircraft destined for the 'Middle East' and the North African front had to fly via West Africa ,and were serviced there.
Ships bound for India and the east, unable to use the Suez Canal, had to sail via the Cape, and were serviced and victualled at West African ports. This, of course, necessitated the employment of vast numbers in war work, for example, in building and maintaining airfields and naval bases.
For example, the US military in Accra employed 6,000 men in construction and other war work. By December 1944 some 5,000 were enlisted in the West African Air Corps as groundcrew. A very small number served as aircrew with the RAF. The war also meant increased demands for raw materials, which were sometimes produced by forced labour.
Palm oil, nuts, rubber, tin, bauxite, sisal and food stuffs were among the ever-increasing exports. Usually produced by mainly British-owned companies, these exports provided the firms with vastly increased profits, at the expense of badly housed and underfed African labour. Recruitment in both East and West Africa had begun early in the war. One East and one West African brigade participated in the re-taking of Abyssinia and one man from each was awarded the Military Medal.
'In the US, black pilots and doctors who had offered to volunteer were refused ...'
When the French colonies in West Africa were freed from Vichy domination, British West African troops, no longer needed in such numbers for Home Guard duties, were moved to Burma, together with some East African brigades. In all, some 166,500 Africans were involved in helping to defeat the Japanese. They, and most Indian troops, had to serve under British officers, as colonials were not thought to be 'officer material'.
Although the colour bar in the British services had been lifted for the duration of the war, in fact very few black men - or women - served in the British army, and none in the Royal Navy. With only two exceptions, even qualified black medical practitioners were refused.
Although Churchill lifted the colour bar, he sent telegrams to every Embassy and High Commission, telling them to find 'adminstrative means' to reject black volunteers. In the US, black pilots and doctors who had offered to volunteer were refused, as a result of this instruction.
Among the specialist units provided by West Africa were four Medical Units, comprising orderlies trained by the West African Army Medical Corps. They were attached to British hospitals in Sicily and Italy. South Africans were also drawn into the war. The Native Military Corps were formed in 1940. They and the 'coloureds' in the South African Army were not trained in the use of firearms.
Generally, it was not thought appropriate for Africans or people of African descent to kill whites but this view didn't apply to Indians. Troops from Bechuanaland, for example, were at first used as pioneer (labour) corps and for guard duty in North Africa and Syria. However, in 1943, six Bechuana companies were re-trained as anti-aircraft crew and stationed in North Africa and then in Sicily.
Some, re-trained for smoke-making, supported the Indian and Maori assault troops at Monte Cassino. Bechuana pioneers moved northwards through Italy with the Allied troops. Of these 10,000 Bechuana troops, 17 were killed and 42 were 'mentioned in despatches' for their bravery. One was awarded the MBE and another the British Empire Medal.
Published: 2001-06-01
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