THE BRITISH EMPIRE AND COMMONWEALTH
W
hen war broke out in 1939, Great Britain still ruled over approximately 25 per cent of the world’s population – this was called the British Commonwealth of Nations, but still informally known as the British Empire. The British directly or partly ruled over India and the West Indies, as well as colonies in the Far East and Africa.The self-ruled countries of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada were also part of the Commonwealth. On VE Day, King George VI said of this united front that had successfully defeated the Axis powers: “The Queen and I know the ordeals which you have endured throughout the Commonwealth and Empire. We are proud to have shared some of these ordeals with you, and we know also that together we shall all face the future with stern resolve.”
THE EMPIRE’S MEN Total in military service: • 5 million from the British Isles • 1,440,500 from India • 629,000 from Canada • 413,000 from Australia • 136,000 from South Africa • 128,500 from New Zealand • more than 134,000 from other colonies. 94
A British propaganda poster from 1939 showing: a West African soldier in slouch hat; an Indian soldier wearing a turban; a British soldier in pith helmet; a New Zealand soldier in ‘lemon squeezer’ slouch hat; an airman of the Royal Canadian Air Force in blue uniform; an Australian soldier in slouch hat; and a sailor of the Royal Navy in dark blue naval uniform.
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