The British Empire and the Second World WarIn 1939 Hitler went to war not just with Great Britain; he also went to war with the whole of the British Empire, the greatest empire that there had ever been. In the years since 1945 that empire has disappeared, and the crucial fact that the British Empire fought together as a whole during the war has been forgotten. All the parts of the empire joined the struggle and were involved in it from the beginning, undergoing huge changes and sometimes suffering great losses as a result. The war in the desert, the defence of Malta and the Malayan campaign, and the contribution of the empire as a whole in terms of supplies, communications and troops, all reflect the strategic importance of Britain's imperial status. Men and women not only from Australia, New Zealand and India but from many parts of Africa and the Middle East all played their part. Winston Churchill saw the war throughout in imperial terms. The British Empire and the Second World War emphasises a central fact about the Second World War that is often forgotten. |
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... squadrons of Fulmars . The Order of Battle on 31 March 1942 consisted of Nos 30 and 258 ( Hurricane ) Squadrons at Ratmalana , No. 261 ( Hurricane ) Squadron and No. 273 ( Fulmar ) Squadrons at China Bay , No. 11 ( Blenheim ) Squadron ...
... squadron ( No. 11 ) arrived from the Middle East to be based at the Racecourse Airstrip ( the squadron had fought in the Iraq campaign a year before ) . There were two FAA squadrons of Fulmars ( Nos 803 and 806 ) , one of Swordfish ( No ...
... squadrons - three fighter reconnaissance , two ground attack , two light bombers and two fighters ( including Hurricane , Spitfire and Vengeance squadrons ) . Its personnel also serviced RAF and USAAF bases in India . Europeans were not ...