The Empire Rallies

The British Empire provided an almost unlimited resource base for the First World War effort. British Dominions and Colonies offered manpower, finance and materials to support the campaign and the governments of these territories used the same mechanisms as Britain to appeal to their own populations to get behind the British war effort. The largest contribution of manpower came from the British Indian Army which fought in Europe, Africa and Asia. Other parts of British Empire also made a significant contribution the armed forces. In addition the Empire also contributed agricultural and financial resources.

The experience of the First World War was often a formative one in the creation of new national identities, for example in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and India, which were to permanently change relationships with Britian in the post war period.