Bahamas Recruitment Poster

When war broke out in 1914, the British colonies in the West Indies quickly pledged their support to Britain in men, money and materials.

King George V called for "men of every class, creed and colour' to join the fight against Germany. Thousands of West Indian young men

came forward to answer that call. They wanted to be a part of this great struggle and to prove their loyalty to the king.

For many people in the West Indies, playing an active role in the fighting was seen as an opportunity to advance claims for

representative government within the islands.