The Gold Coast Regiment in the African Campaigns During the First World War 1914-18

A famous African regiment during the Great War

The First World War was, of course, principally fought in Europe. The established European nations had by the turn of the 20th century expanded their influence across the globe, thus gaining advantages in commerce and colonisation, Germany, comparatively new to nationhood, was a late comer to global imperialism but nevertheless maintained colonies in the wider world particularly in west and east Africa. When war broke out the forces in the colonies of both sides which had hitherto lived as neighbours now became enemies. Both Germany and Britain recruited troops from local populations and the subject of this book, the Gold Coast Regiment, were among them. The Gold Coast (now Ghana) in West Africa, together with Nigeria, provided excellent, strong, resourceful soldiers for the British Empire. It was logical that these troops would be most effective in African campaigns and the Gold Coast Regiment was accordingly dispatched to fight in the Cameroons and in the campaigns in East Africa. There they did fine service in actions which are described in detail in these pages. The side-show theatres of the Great War have always been of special interest to students of this period and so this book is essential reading on the subject. Contains maps and illustrations not present in original versions of this text.

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