The Caribbean at War, 1939-1945

IDENTITY STATEMENT AREA

Reference code(s): IWM Photograph Archive - Subject List 285

Title: The Caribbean at War, 1939-1945

Date(s): 1939 - 1945

Level of description: Sub fond

Extent and medium of the unit of description: 47 photographs (b & w)

CONTEXT AREA

Name of creator(s):

Administrative/Biographical history: During the Second World War the harbours of the Western Atlantic and the Caribbean provided valuable bases for the allied navies. The area itself was defended by local volunteers who had joined the North and South Caribbean forces. The North force comprised volunteers from Jamaica, Belize (formerly British Honduras), the Bahamas and the Leeward Islands. The South force comprised volunteer troops from Barbados, Guyana (formerly British Guiana), Trinidad and the Windward Islands. A composite force known as the Caribbean Regiment was raised from these units and served overseas in many theatres of war under the control of the British Army Council. Throughout this period numerous schemes were inaugurated to improve the deplorable health and housing conditions in the Caribbean and some constitutional changes were brought about.

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CONTENT AND STRUCTURE AREA

Scope and content: Subject List 285 within the Imperial War Museum Photograph Archive lists 47 items, each showing aspects of Caribbean involvement in the Second World War, particularly images of volunteers involved with the Caribbean Regiment's North and South Caribbean Forces. The list has been divided into 6 thematic sections, each providing details of photograph negative numbers and image descriptions. In general the names of individual people have been omitted from the descriptions summarised below. SECTION 1: U.S. BASES IN THE CARIBBEAN: In 1940 an agreement was signed between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for the lease of naval and air bases in certain British colonies in the West Indies and North Atlantic as part of the Western Hemisphere Defence Plan. With the entry of the United States into the war in 1941 and the extension of the German submarine campaign to the Caribbean and the coastal waters of the Western Atlantic, these bases were to prove of great importance.

• NY 6121 - Image of a US Navy torpedo boat on anti-submarine patrol in the Caribbean Sea.
• NY 5063 - American forces on the island of Antigua. US soldiers are seen wearing gas masks to accustom themselves to war conditions during training manoeuvres.
• OEM 21398 - United States troops training in the Caribbean jungle.
• OEM 21397 - United States soldiers, carrying their rifles shoulder high, cross a river during a jungle warfare training course at one of the remote outposts manned by American troops in the Caribbean, 1942.
• NY 5062 - Governor of the Leeward Islands inspecting the US Guard of Honour on the first anniversary of the arrival of American troops at Antigua, 1942.
• K 3545 - US Marines marching past the saluting base during a parade before the Governor of Jamaica in Kingston, September 1942.

SECTION 2: THE NORTH AND SOUTH CARIBBEAN FORCES:

• K 4785 - The Governor of Jamaica takes the salute as the Jamaica Infantry Volunteers march past at Kingston, Jamaica, March 1943.
• OKA 561 - Lewis gun section of the St Lucia Volunteer Force, Windward Islands.
• K 10385 - A Coast Defence gun crew at practice, Guyana (British Guiana).
• K 10384 - A bugler of the British Guiana Garrison calling men in from training at the garrison's battle school, 1945.
• K 2196 - A Regimental colours presentation in Trinidad. Photograph shows the Colour Party receiving the Regimental Colour of the 1st Battalion, Trinidad Volunteers on the Queen's Park, Savannah.
• K 7766 - At the military hospital for troops in the South Caribbean area based at Port of Spain, Trinidad, a soldier is seen undergoing a chest examination by a 35mm X-Ray machine, 1944.
• K 7388 - Trinidad units of the South Caribbean Force undergoing bayonet practice at a training camp, 1944.
• K 7387 - Men of the South Caribbean Force advancing on the 'enemy' in the course of rigorous military exercises in Trinidad, 1944.
• K 7389 - Members of a Trinidad unit of the South Caribbean Force being trained in jungle fighting, 1944. Photograph shows the platoon advancing from an area enveloped in a smoke screen.
• K 7380 - Caribbean soldiers being served breakfast by the Mess Orderly at a Trinidad training camp, 1944.
• K 7398 - The first contingent of the South Caribbean Force to leave the West Indies for service overseas. Photograph shows a Caribbean soldier, holding his baby, saying goodbye to his wife, in the town of Arima, Trinidad, 1944.
• K 7396 - Photograph taken during 'Soldier Week', when a welfare fund was launched for West Indian troops serving overseas. The troops of the South Caribbean force are seen marching along Queen Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad.

SECTION 3: THE CARIBBEAN REGIMENT: This series of photographs were taken while the 1st Battalion, Caribbean Regiment were waiting to return from Egypt to the West Indies in 1945.

• E 31193 - Bren gunner and rifleman, of the 1st Battalion, Caribbean Regiment, in action from cover, August 1945.
• E 31198 - A 2-inch mortar team in action, Egypt, 1945.
• E 31212 - West Indian troops rushing from a carrier to take up position with a Bren gun, Egypt, 1945.
• E 31204 - The Orderly officer of the 1st Battalion, Caribbean Regiment inspecting the Regimental guard, August 1945.
• E 31201 - The dance band of the 1st Battalion, Caribbean Regiment, August 1945.

SECTION 4: THE TRINIDAD ROYAL VOLUNTEER RESERVE (TRNVR): The Trinidad Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was formed in 1939, administered by the local Government and operated by the British Admiralty. Recruits were drawn from all over the West Indies, with approximately half coming from Trinidad and the remainder from the other islands. After receiving initial training, recruits were transferred to mine-sweepers, motor launch ships (MLs) or given small harbour craft to handle.

• K 7515 - The TRNVR training establishment at Staubles Bay, Trinidad, 1944.
• K 7527 - Members of the TRNVR undergoing gun drill with a light machine gun on board an ML, 1944.
• K 7524 - West Indian ratings of the TRNVR operating a depth charge thrower, 1944.
• K 7540 - A TRNVR rating at the wheel of a patrol yacht, keeping the forenoon watch, 1944.
• K 7530 - TRNVR naval police who guarded the naval base and other shore establishments at Trinidad, 1944.
• K 7520 - Photograph of a senior British naval officer at the Trinidad base inspecting members of the TRNVR, 1944. K 7512 - Cricket practice at the TRNVR training establishment, 1944.

SECTION 5: CIVIL DEFENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN: In 1942 civil defence organisations were organised to assist in the defence of the Caribbean.

• K 5252 - A demonstration by units of the Trinidad branch of the British Red Cross showing the manner in which victims of exploded bombs were given first aid, Port of Spain, Trinidad in 1943.
• K 5238 - ARP wardens giving a fire fighting display in the borough of San Fernando, Trinidad, 1943.
• K 9005 - Colonel Stanley, the Secretary of State for the Colonies, inspecting the Guard of Honour, comprising of men of the Kingston Fire brigade during his visit to Jamaica in January 1945.
• K 8832 - Group of ATS clerks at work in the store-room of the Trinidad Base Command, Port of Spain, 1944. K 8831 - A parade of ATS girls at St James Barracks, Port of Spain, Trinidad, November 1944.
• K 8829 - Two ATS girls at work in the library at the St James' Depot, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1945.
• K 8830 -ATS girls pictured in the canteen at the St James' Depot, Port of Spain, Trinidad, 1945.
• K 7751 - ATS march past during the Empire Day celebrations in Kingston, Jamaica, 1944.
• K 5926 - Jamaica's first ATS unit at drill, 1944.
• K 5928 - Women of Jamaica's ATS arriving at their headquarters in an army lorry, 1944.
• K 5929 - Sergeant Moore of the ATS holding an inspection of Jamaica's unit which she trained after her arrival from England, 1944.

SECTION 6: SOCIAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST INDIES: Although on the one hand poverty in the West Indies was exacerbated by war-time shortages, this period did see some improvements. The British Government set up a Colonial Welfare and Development Fund and schemes were begun to improve water supplies and irrigation, communication and transport, education, agriculture, public health and sanitation, housing and land settlement. The war period also saw political and constitutional development. Jamaica's constitution was revised and elections held for the new House of Representatives in 1944. Elsewhere in the West Indies progress for the most part took the form of an extension of the franchise.

• K 1235 - Trinidad's re-housing scheme sponsored by the Trinidad Government. Photograph shows a general view of the new housing.
• K 7732 - Pupils leaving the British West Indies Public Health Training Station in Jamaica. This was established in 1943 to afford facilities for the training of health personnel. It was supported by the Jamaican Government, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Colonial welfare and Development fund.
• K 7730 - A public health nursing student making her first home visit, Jamaica, 1944.
• K 7729 - Student sanitary inspectors looking at premises in Jamaica, 1944.
• HU 54732 - Photograph showing clerical staff in the census office carrying out work which enabled Jamaica to hold her first democratic election, 1944.
• HU 54733 - The preparation of a census which enabled Jamaica to hold her first democratic election, 1944. Photograph shows a labourer being asked questions for the census, Kingston, Jamaica.

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CONDITIONS OF ACCESS AND USE AREA

Conditions governing access: Access to the Visitor's Room of the Imperial War Museum is by appointment during the following opening hours: Monday - Friday 10:00am to 5:00pm. There are no entry fees and staff are available to advise you in your search. The Visitors Room is a short distance from the Imperial War Museum in the All Saints Annexe, Austral Street, London SE11 4SL. To make an appointment please phone +44 (0) 20 7416 5333.

Conditions governing reproduction: he majority of photographic images within the collection are Crown copyright. Applications for reproduction rights should be addressed to the Keeper, Photograph Archive. Copies are supplied in accordance with restrictions imposed by current legislation. Reproduction fees may be charged. Full details are available from the IWM web site at http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/photos.htm

Language/scripts of material: English

Physical characteristics:

Finding aids: Printed subject list

ALLIED MATERIALS AREA

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related units of description: For photographs of Caribbean servicemen and women in Britain during the Second World War please consult Subject List No. 269.

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION CONTROL AREA

Recorder's note:

Rules or conventions: Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions: February 2002

Interest: Caribbean

Specific group:

Subjects

Social welfare

Colonial countries

World war

Photographs

Armed forces

Personal/Corporate names

Trinidad Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Caribbean Regiment

North Caribbean Force

South Caribbean Force

Auxiliary Territorial Service

Places

Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Lucia

Jamaica

Guyana

Antigua and Barbuda

Windward Islands

Leeward Islands

Caribbean