Distant Drums – The Role of Colonies in British Imperial Warfare

Distant Drums reveals how colonies were central to the defense of the British Empire and the command of the oceans that underpinned it. The book blends sweeping overviews of the nature of imperial defense with grassroots explanations of how individual colonies were mobilized for war. This permits the full and dramatic range of action involved in imperial warfare to be viewed as part of an interconnected whole, from policy-makers and military planners in Whitehall to chiefs recruiting soldiers in African villages. After examining the martial reasons for acquiring colonies, Distant Drums considers the colonial role in the First World War. It then turns to the Second World War, documenting the recruitment of colonial soldiers, their manifold roles in British military formations, and the impact of war upon colonial home fronts. It reveals the problems associated with the use of colonial troops far from home, and the networks used to achieve the mobilization of a global empire, such as those formed by colonial governors and regional naval commanders. Distant Drums is an important contribution to the understanding of the role of British colonies in 20th-century warfare. The defense of empire has traditionally been associated with the military endeavors of Britain and the 'white' Dominions, with the Indian Army sometimes in the background. This book champions the crucial role played by the other parts of the British Empire - the 60 or so colonies spread across the globe - in delivering victory during both World Wars.