[3][4] The British West Indies Regiment played a significant role in the First World War especially in Palestine and Jordan where they were employed in military operations against the Ottoman Army.

[5] During the Palestine Campaign General Allenby sent the following telegram to the Governor of Jamaica, William Manning, "I have great pleasure in informing you of the gallant conduct of the machine-gun section of the 1st British West Indies Regiment during two successful raids on the Turkish trenches.

All ranks behaved with great gallantry under heavy rifle and shell fire and contributed in no small measure to the success of the operations".

On 6 December 1918, the men of the 9th Battalion refused to obey orders, and 180 sergeants signed a petition complaining about poor pay, allowances and promotions.

[8] Bitterness persisted after the mutiny was suppressed and on 17 December 1918 about 60 NCOs of the BWIR met to form the Caribbean League, calling for equal rights, self-determination and closer union in the West Indies.

At a meeting on 20 December, a sergeant of the 3rd Battalion stated that "the black man should have freedom and govern himself in the West Indies and that if necessary, force and bloodshed should be used to attain that object".