Soldiers of Uncertain Rank: The West India Regiments in British Imperial Culture

Professor David Lambert explores the history of the West India Regiments and their impact on the culture of the Caribbean.

Raised in the 1790s to defend Britain's Caribbean colonies, the West India Regiments fought as infantry in several campaigns. Initially comprised of enslaved Africans, some of whom had been brought to the region by slave traders, these regiments would go on to serve in the Caribbean and across Africa right up to the First World War. They remained a formal part of the British Army until their disbandment in 1927.

Professor David Lambert will explore the place and status of the soldiers of the West India Regiments, analysing their depiction in word and image, and shedding new light on their legacy. 

About the speaker

David Lambert

David Lambert is Professor of Caribbean History at the University of Warwick and Co-Director of the Centre for Caribbean Studies. His research is concerned with empire, race, warfare and slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries, focusing on the Caribbean. He has authored and co-authored multiple books on the topic, including ‘Soldiers of Uncertain Rank: The West India Regiments in British Imperial Culture’ (2024).