My grandfather Augustus Russell, survived the first pandemic, the First World War and the first discrimination of the British Army on the basis of the right to strike.

 

He was part of the British West Indies Regiment that liberated Palestine successfully and after its liberation they were put into demobilisation and parked up at Toronto. While they were doing menial labour and working hard, the white soldiers gave orders, played cards, smoked cigars and relaxed all while earning higher wages. This is when they withdrew their labour, demanded better working conditions, better pay and went on strike. This was known as the British West Indies Regiment Mutiny of 1918.

 

The British West Indies Regiment Mutiny of 1918 was a significant event in the history of the Caribbean. The mutiny occurred during World War I, when soldiers from the British West Indies Regiment stationed in France refused to obey orders and demanded better treatment from their superiors.

 

The soldiers were frustrated with their poor living conditions, lack of pay, and racial discrimination within the army. They also felt that they were being used as cannon fodder by the British military. The mutiny lasted for several days before it was eventually quelled by force.

 

The mutiny had far-reaching consequences for both the soldiers involved and the wider Caribbean community. Many of the mutineers were court-martialed and imprisoned, while others were sent back to their home countries in disgrace. The incident also sparked a wave of anti-colonial sentiment across the region, as many people began to question Britain's authority over its colonies.

 

Overall, the British West Indies Regiment Mutiny was a pivotal moment in Caribbean history that highlighted issues of race, inequality, and colonialism within the British Empire.