christine liava'a Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Just how many countries, races or nationalities were involved in WW1?Take a look at this poster. These are the groups from the South Pacific that I know of. New Zealand; both European and Maori, NZEF Niue Island; in NZEF Cook Islands; in NZEF Fiji; FLC, Fiji Contingents Samoa & Tonga; a few in NZEF French Polynesia -French forces New Caledonia- French forces Please add all other countries or groups that you know of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 A quick (and incomplete) list of nations involved in some capacity.... Aden Afghanistan Africa (encompassing several such as Basutoland,Bechuanaland,Gold Coast etc,etc...) Albania Arabia Australia Austria-Hungary Belgium Brazil Bulgaria Canada Ceylon China Costa Rica Cuba Czechoslovakia Egypt Eritrea Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Guatemala Haiti Honduras India Italy Japan Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Mexico Montenegro Newfoundland New Zealand Nicaragua North Africa (incl.Morrocco etc.) Panama Persia Phillipines Poland Portugal Rumania Russia Serbia Siam Singapore Somaliland South Africa Sudan Turkey Transcaucasia USA West Indies. Dave (no, this isn't one of the nations, it's my name!!! ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ian Bowbrick Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Not to forget one half on my family, Ireland. Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Christine One other place to be considered in the South Pacific is tiny Norfolk Island, an external self-governing territory of Australia, but not really part of Australia (Norfolk Islanders compete as a separate team, under their own flag, in events like the Commonwealth Games). Norfolk Islanders, many of whom were descended from the HMS Bounty muntineers, served in both the AIF and NZEF. Cheers Dolphin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul guthrie Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Norfolk Island was also the worst of the worst prisons in early Australia. See a wonderful book called The Fatal Shore, I just can't tell you how good this is on settlement of the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 You can add all British possessions not mentioned above Seychelles Mauritius Falkland Is St Helena Bermuda Bahamas British Guiana British Honduras Malta Gibraltar Malaya Singapore Hong Kong Wei Hai Wei Most had their home defence units or sent labour corps/troops You could even say that some neutral countries were involved as they all had to cope with the fall out from the war (ie internment, blockades etc) -Netherlands, Switzerland etc and not forgetting Libya and Nepal plus the overseas possesions of France, Germany, Italy, Belgium & Portugal! Also, I suppose we ought to add the United Kingdom to the list! Is there anyone left out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CROONAERT Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Also, I suppose we ought to add the United Kingdom to the list! Whoops!!! I can't believe that I forgot that one !!! Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hill 60 Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Do Guernsey & Jersey count? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 19 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Where is Wei Hai Wei? I wonder whether there were any Pitcairn Islanders involved? and on the other side, apart from Germany? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 I wondered how long it would be before someone asked! Wei Hai Wei was a former British possession on the coast of Northern China (similar to Hong Kong). The Germans also had a like outpost at Tsingtao - scene of fighting early in the war involving the British and Japanese v the Germans. W-H-W's connection with WW1 is that it was the recruiting source of the Chinese Labour Corps (see another recent thread). The Chinese from the province of North China were particularly regarded for their warlike and hardworking natures and were seen as the 'right stuff' for the British army's needs. Most of the 2000 who died in Europe came from North China via this British toehold in China. I do not think any Pitcairns were involved and I wonder how long it was before they even knew that war had been declared! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 19 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Probably a year or so! So it looks as if South America, not including the Caribbean area, was the the only major area not involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Some South/Central American countries did declare war although this was for political/economic reasons - to get a share of the spoils in any peace settlement. However, here in Sussex, UK we have what I believe to be a unique WW1 war grave - that of a Brazilian naval pilot killed while training with the RAF in 1918. All that way to be killed in a collision off Eastbourne!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christine liava'a Posted 19 June , 2003 Author Share Posted 19 June , 2003 I see Finland is included, but what about the rest of Scandinavia? I see I've been promoted! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Denham Posted 19 June , 2003 Share Posted 19 June , 2003 Sweden, Norway & Denmark were neutral but they suffered merchant shipping losses. Iceland was still a Danish possession at that time. Congratulations on the new stripe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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