On the question of how the various members of the British Empire/Commonwealth, though about Britains entry into WWII, and their part in it. The first thing to remember is that the past is a very different place, to the world as we now understand it. The second thing is that the Empire/Commonwealth, wasn’t a unitary entreaty, and that there was different opinions throughout the Empire/Commonwealth, and even within the various nations within it. And the third, is that there were various forms of nations, which had different relationships, and obligations to the “mother country.” A good example of this is Southern Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Isles of Man, in theory, Northern Ireland was a part of the the British Isles and subject to the same laws and regulations as was the main land, however while this was mostly true, in one particular area it differed. To prevent internal conflict,Northern Island didn’t have conscription, and less Northern Irish, who had to volunteer to join the British Armed Forces, volunteered per head of population, than Southern Irish. Southern Ireland while at the time was a part of the British Commonwealth, elected to remain neutral, and even enacted laws to prevent it citizens from volunteering to serve in the British forces. The Isles of Man were are a Self Governing Crown Dependancy, which while it looked to Britain for defence and foreign relations, its own government decided all other matters. During the war it allowed the British Government to deport a large number of enemy aliens to be interred on the island, and for the British to establish air bases and naval bases in and on the island.
Then you have the “white” dominions, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Newfoundland, all four announced that they were too at war with Germany, and allocated parts of their military forces to the British to control. However all three placed various restrictions on just how much control the British government, military establishment had over their forces. After the Breaker Morant court marshal during the Boer War, the Australian Government, which had supported the result at the time, decided that in future all Australian military could only be tried by an Australian Court Marshal from then on, and by the time of WWII, this was true of all the Dominions. Canada had problems with the Franco third of their population, who were not as motivated to fight in Britains war as the Anglos were. While both of Australia and New Zealand were far more enthusiastic to aid the “Mother Land,” which given just how meany of their citizens were recent immigrants or the sons or daughters of immigrants, was understandable. Then there were the two white dominated but largely indigenous, areas, South Africa and Rhodesia. One South Africa, had a troubled relationship with Britain, as it had two dominant white cultures, Anglo and Boer, with the Boers not being as sportive of Britain as the Anglo community was. South Africa brought in regulation that prevented South African troops from serving outside the African continent. Rhodesia, whose white population was predominantly made up of former temporary officers from WWI, and were mostly middle class ex grammar school boys, was far more enthusiastic about Rhodesian involvement in the war.
Many of the smaller colonies, were proud to make a what they saw as a contribution towards the cause. And it should always be remembered that the worlds largest all volunteer army, was dedicated to the British cause, with over two million members. And that was the Indian Army, which went trough major changes during the war, which included a reduction in the level of British control, and an increase in the status of the Indian troops and officers. Then there is the major contribution by the young men of Nepal, who crossed into British India from a neutral country to volunteer to fight in the Indian Army for Britain. Thousand of young man from Africa volunteered to fight or serve in secondary roles, and ended up slogging through the jungles of Burma, or climbing the hills and mountains of Italy, in British service. Yes there were internal issues in India, and even bigger issues in Burma, were there was and is to this day conflict between the lowland Burmese and the various hill tribes. But other than one peculiar situation, it was only in the “white” dominions and among the white population of the white dominated dominion and colony, that conscription took place. And that one peculiar situation, the Anglo Indian population of the western frontier region, asked for conscription to be introduced for the Anglo Indians, after the fall of Burma in 1942. So was the general perception that the old boys in London had blundered their way into another war with Germany, I seriously doubt so.
RR.
