The West India Regiment (WIR) was a British colonial infantry regiment. It was raised initially in 1795 by recruitment amongst freed slaves in the West Indies: Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme, First World War. ... A regiment is a military unit, larger than a company and smaller than a division. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

The new regiment saw considerable service during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, including participation in the British attack on New Orleans. In 1800 there were 12 battalion sized regiments with this title. The numbers were reduced after 1815 but during most of the remainder of the nineteenth century there were never less than two West India Regiments. In 1888 these were merged into a single regiment comprising two battalions. A third battalion was raised in 1897, but was disbanded in 1904. Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO code In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. ... 1897 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... 1904 (MCMIV) is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The WIR was unique amongst units serving in and recruited from the colonies, in that it was an integral part of the British regular army. In 1856 a very striking uniform was adopted for the regiments modelled on that of the French Zouaves. It comprised a red fez wound about by a white turban, scarlet sleeveless jacket with elaborate yellow braiding worn over a long-sleeved white waistcoat, and dark blue voluminous breeches piped in yellow. This distinctive uniform was retained for full dress throughout the regiment until 1914 and by the band until disbandment in 1927.

The regiment saw service in West Africa in the latter years of the 19th Century, and saw limited action in the Middle East during the First World War. After the war, the 1st and 2nd battalions were amalgamated into a single 1st Battalion in 1920. This was disbanded in 1927. The reasons for disbandment were primarily economic. The West Indies had long been a peaceful backwater with limited defence requirements and the substitute role under which the WIR had provided a single battalion as part of the garrison in Britain's West African pocessions had become obsolete as local forces were raised and expanded there. Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... 1920 (MCMXX) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Overall the WIR had a good record for discipline and effectiveness, although there were three seperate mutinies betweek 1802 and 1837. A factor in these (and a weakness in the WIR throughout its history) was that it did not always attract a high calibre of British officer. Prevailing social attitudes meant that service with "black infantry" was not a popular option during the nineteenth century and many of the more capable officers saw their time with the WIR as simply a stepping stone to more sought after assignments.

In 1958, with the foundation of the Federation of the West Indies, it was decided to raise the West India Regiment once again. Initially, the 1st Battalion was formed from the nucleus of the Jamaica Regiment. The 2nd and 3rd battalions were also formed by 1960. However, the Federation was short lived, and the regiment again disbanded by 1962, with the constituent battalions becoming the infantry regiments of the two largest islands: 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... National motto: Official language English Capital Chaguaramas Capitals coordinates Largest city {{{largestcity}}} {{{head_of_state}}} {{{current_head_of_state}}} {{{head_of_government}}} {{{current_head_of_government}}} Political system Constitutional monarchy Area  - Total   - % water Ranked % Population   - Total (1960)   - Density Ranked approx. ... The Jamaica Regiment is the main formation of land troops in the Jamaican Defence Forces. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

• 1st Battalion - 1st Battalion, Jamaica Regiment
• 2nd Battalion - 1st Battalion, Trinidad and Tobago Regiment
• 3rd Battalion - disbanded

• Battle Honours
  • Dominica, Martinique 1809, Guadeloupe 1810, Ashantee 1873-4, West Africa 1887, West Africa 1892-93-94, Sierra Leone 1898
  • The Great War (2 battalions): Palestine 1917-18, E. Africa 1916-18, Cameroons 1915-16

See "The Empty Sleeve" by Brian Dyde for a recently (1997) published history of the West India Regiment. ISBN 976-8163-09-7 The Jamaica Regiment is the main formation of land troops in the Jamaican Defence Forces. ... The Trinidad and Tobago Regiment is the main ground force element of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force. ...

British West Indies Regiment

In 1915, a second West Indies regiment was formed from Caribbean volunteers who made their way to Britain. Initially, these volunteers were drafted into a variety of units within the British Army, but in 1915 it was decided to group them together into a single regiment, named the British West Indies Regiment. Initially it was made up of men from: 1915 (MCMXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

• British Guiana - A Company
• Trinidad - B Company
• Trinidad and St Vincent - C Company
• Grenada and Barbados - D Company

High wastage led to further drafts from Jamaica, British Honduras and Barbados before the regiment was able to begin training. The regiment totalled twelve battalions, and engaged in a number of roles and theatres. The regiment was finally disbanded in 1921. British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana. ... Trinidad (Spanish, Trinity) is the largest of the 23 islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago. ... Saint Vincent may refer to: Saint Vincent (island) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines São Vicente Saint Vincent de Paul Saint Vincent Ferrer Saint Vincent of Lerins Saint Vincent of Saragossa Saint Vincent Pallotti Saint-Vincent, a municipality of the Valle dAosta, in Italy St. ... British Honduras was the former name of a British colony on the east coast of Central America, now the independent nation of Belize. ... 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

• Battle Honours
  • The Great War (11 battalions): Messines 1917, Ypres 1917, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Pursuit to Mons, France and Flanders 1916-18, Italy 1918, Rumani, Egypt 1916-17, Gaza, El Mughar, Nebi Samwil, Jerusalem, Jaffa, Megiddo, Nablus, Palestine 1917-18

Caribbean Regiment

Another West Indies regiment was formed in 1944, this time called the Caribbean Regiment. This consisted of members of the local militia forces, as well as direct recruits. The regiment conducted brief training in Trinidad and the United States of America, before being sent to Italy. Once there, the regiment performed a number of general duties behind the front lines - these included the escort of 4,000 PoWs from Italy to Egypt. Subsequently, the regiment undertook mine clearence around the Suez Canal. The regiment returned to the Caribbean in 1946 to be disbanded, having not seen front line action - this was due to inadequate training and partly because of the political impact in the British West Indies if it had incurred heavy casualties. 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... Trinidad (Spanish, Trinity) is the largest of the 23 islands which make up the country of Trinidad and Tobago. ... 1881 drawing of the Suez Canal The Suez Canal (Arabic: قناة السويس, Qanā al-Suways), west of the Sinai Peninsula, is a 163 km maritime canal in Egypt between Port Said (Būr Saīd) on the Mediterranean Sea and Suez (al-Suways) on the Red Sea. ... 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...