British Army

The Caribbean Regiment.

Information about this unit is scarce with (it would seem) very little material being available - including the National Army Museum (UK).

The Caribbean Regiment was formed in April 1944 for overseas service in the Second World War (1939 - 1945) and was also known as the Carib Regiment. As well as recruits from all over the British West Indies, the regiment also consisted of members of local Volunteer Defence Forces. A few officers and Non-commissioned Officers were also drafted in from British Army Units.

After a short training period in Trinidad and the United States of America the regiment moved to Italy in July 1944 and was employed in general duties behind the front line. In October it was used to escort 4000 German prisoners of war from Italy to Egypt. Subsequently it was used in mine clearance work around the Suez canal area. Finally in 1946 it returned to the West Indies and was disbanded.

The unit never saw front line action due to inadequate training and partly because of the political impact in the British West Indies if it had incurred heavy casualties.

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One member of the unit is buried in Springfield Cemetery, Basseterre, St. Kitts and his grave is administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.