West India Regiments

The West India Regiments (WIR) were a group of line infantry regiments of the British Army raised and normally stationed in the British West Indies between 1795 and 1927. In 1888 the two West India Regiments then in existence were reduced to a single regiment of two battalions. This regiment differed from similar forces raised in other parts of the British Empire in that it was a part of the British Army. In 1958 a new regiment was raised following the creation of the Federation of the West Indies with the establishment of three battalions, however, the regiment's existence was short-lived and it was disbanded in 1962 when its personnel were used to establish other military units in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Throughout their history, the WIR were involved in a number of campaigns in the West Indies and Africa, and also took part in the First World War, where they served in the Middle Eastern and East African theatres.