West India Regiments

[DavidB]

Perhaps I should give a link here to further information about these regiments:
http://website.lineone.net/~bwir/wirhist.htm

They have a particular association with the Ashanti Wars, for example the 2nd WIR served in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th wars spanning the 1820s to the 1890s. The government was often reluctant to commit British troops to the "white man's graveyard" as the Gold Coast was sometimes known, and the WIRs were handed the task instead.

When British troops were sent in force in the 1870s, the WIRs actually found themselves underused, despite their experience in the country. Wolseley, like many British officers of the time, held views that appear thoroughly racist by today's standards. He thoroughly distrusted all Black soldiers.

My new avatar, Sgt William Gordon VC, is a great illustration of the WIR uniform.

[siegebatteries]

Hi

Sadly the link posted on this thread two years ago seems to be broken. Does anyone know what the new web name might be?

I would be interested in details of the involvement of the West Indians and the structure of their units during the 73-74 campaign - are there any other sites with such details?

[Pgeddes]

Hello,

You might want to get yourself a copy of 'The Empty Sleeve', by Brian Dyde, which is a history of the West India Regiments.