British Imperialism and its Legacies: World War II - Empire and Commonwealth

Comments

Glasgow Museums has a small collection of items which relate to the role which individuals and organisations in the British Commonwealth of Nations, colonies and other British territories played in World War II. The Commonwealth originally comprised the semi-independent dominions in the Empire such as Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. When World War II broke out, Commonwealth and colonial territories entered the war to support Britain.

Objects include three artworks relating to the role of the British Indian Army in North Africa and the UK. There is a model of HMIS Sutlej, a Royal Indian Navy ship built in Dumbarton which saw service in the Atlantic and Sicily Campaigns, as well as further afield. Other Indian Navy ships were stationed in Scotland, and Indian sailors were accommodated in Balloch and other locations during the war. There is one illustration of an Indian troop ship but it is unclear if this is from World War II.

Non-military contributions include a small series of posters made for schools showing the war materials and foods supplied by different parts of the Empire, such as India and South Africa. A recent donation relates to Mrs Ragbir, a doctor’s wife, who served in the Red Cross in Glasgow during the war.

Generally speaking, the objects were donated by people living in, or connected to, Glasgow, and there has been no specific collecting on this subject, which is why the collection is limited in number and scope.

Broader term

British Imperialism and its Legacies: Exploitation of military power in the colonies