}
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
885/25
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Memorandum on steps taken to Increase the Supply of (a) Coloured Troops, (b) Coloured Labour, and on the use by the Naval and Military Authorities of Colonial Government Officials.
SOUTH AFRICA.
I-CAPE BOYS (i.e., COLOURED MEN WITH WHITE BLOOD, NOT PURE-BLOODED
NATIVES).
A CAPE coloured contingent has been employed for over a year in East Africa. It originally numbered 517, but it is to be increased. This contingent (unlike the Cape coloured men sent to Europe) is employed on combatant duties. It may be added that two Indian bearer companies from South Africa are also serving in East Africa.
In March 1916 His Majesty's Government asked the Union to supply Cape Boys 14851/16. for service special labour battalions in France. The Union Government hesitated 17392/16. at first on both climatic and moral grounds, but a battalion was enrolled and despatched in the autumn. These men are attested in the same way as the South African European contingent, and are, of course, under military discipline, though not employed for combatant purposes. The battalion is called the "1st Cape Boys Labour 56604/16. Battalion." It numbers in round figures 1,000. A Cape Boy Pioneer Battalion will be sent to France when the troops employed in East Africa are liberated.
IL-NATIVES.
Natives have been employed on the Northern Rhodesia border both as combatants (a special corps of 500 was raised in Matabeleland for General Northey) and as carriers. These men are, however, fighting in their own country, and therefore their employment there presents no particular difficulties. (It may be mentioned that both natives and Cape Boys were employed in the South-West African campaign, but not in a combatant capacity.)
Various proposals detailed below have been made for employing natives in Europe, and have resulted in arrangements being made for using them as a labour force, but the Union Government have never felt able to allow them to be employed in a military capacity.
(A.)-Native Labour Force.
Ministers, after hesitating a great deal, have agreed to the enlistment of a native labour force of 10,000 for service in France. Their agreement was only given on the express condition that the natives should not only be under strict military discipline during the whole period of their employment in France, but should also be housed 39576/16. under the closed compound system-a definite pledge to this effect was therefore given by His Majesty's Government. Ministers told us in express terms that they viewed "with no little anxiety the scheme of sending so large a contingent of raw South African natives to Europe," and felt their responsibility acutely. The whole scheme, 47816/16. in fact,nearly fell through, because Ministers wished, on the score of climate, to see the natives employed in the South of France. This proved to be impossible. The scheme was not, however, dropped, though no one knows what the death-rate will be, and it was arranged that the first batch should sail about the end of October. headquarters will be at Dieppe.
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The
57417/16.
B