Black Man's Part in the War: an account of the dark-skinned population of the British empire

"No man living...has a more extensive first-hand knowledge of the black race...these races...have contributed liberally of their means to forward the cause of the Allies...by services in person...behind the lines in France." Western Morning News (Plymouth), Nov. 30, 1917

During World War One, the United Kingdom ruled more or less directly some 44,700,000 Africans. When all the circumstances are taken into consideration it is found that the African played a part in World War One quite proportionate to their opportunities and means; and actually would have done much more to help the Allies against the Central Powers had they not been restrained for one reason and another by their white guardians, advisers or administrators.

It was the object of Sir Harry Hamilton Johnston's 1917 book "Black Man's Part in the War" to set forth the Black Man's loyalty to the British Empire in World War One; the sympathy he showed, the great services he rendered; and the much greater extent to which he might have been employed, and to make clear the obligation after the war to recognise and affirm his rights as a citizen of the Empire.

In noting the role Africans played in defeating Germany in West Africa, Johnston writes:

"The Hausa States between Bornu and the middle Niger have probably furnished us with twenty to thirty thousand admirable soldiers for employment in this War against Germany. With such troops and others we have conquered and occupied half Togoland, and with them, in alliance with the French and their Senegalese troops, we have conducted an extremely difficult, arduous, but successful campaign against the German forces in the Cameroons. And at the time this book is being written there are important contingents of Hausas on their way to finish the struggle in German East Africa."

Dettagli