}
Empire troops
‘A war against Britain was a war against Buganda’
The Record of My Service by Buganda chief Samwiri Mukasa
9 million men from across the British Empire served in the British Army to support the ‘Motherland’.
Over two million of these were ‘non-white’, mainly men from India, the West Indies and Africa, serving as soldiers and porters. Their vast contribution to the war remains undervalued and largely unrecognised.
Some of these Empire troops passed through Bristol on their way to war. Some returned, wounded, to Bristol’s war hospitals. Some are buried here.
Many men, including Bristolians, who had emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada returned to join the British Army, rather than join their local regiments.
9 million men from across the British Empire served in the British Army to support the ‘Motherland’.
Over two million of these were ‘non-white’, mainly men from India, the West Indies and Africa, serving as soldiers and porters. Their vast contribution to the war remains undervalued and largely unrecognised.
Some of these Empire troops passed through Bristol on their way to war. Some returned, wounded, to Bristol’s war hospitals. Some are buried here.
Many men, including Bristolians, who had emigrated to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada returned to join the British Army, rather than join their local regiments.