an end, but rather the worthy culmination of a long life dedicated to the single purpose of loyalty and devotion to monarch and empire. From end to end of the Indian Army the story of how Roberts Bahadur had come again among them and had died among them, served as a fresh inspiration and a fresh stimulus.
Much more could be said of the response of India and the great Dominions. South Africa faced its own particular problems and the detailed description of events in German Africa and elsewhere will be found in later chapters of this work. No passing reference, however, would be complete without mention of the South African troops who fought on the Western Front. It was a South African brigade which, on June 15, 1916, took Delville Wood, which in 1920 the South African government purchased as a national memorial.
From every corner of the empire came the same ready offers of men and material. Newfoundland provided a very creditable percentage of fighting men for its population: 11,922 joined the various services, and, in addition, 3,000 Newfound-landers enlisted in the Canadian and other forces. A distinct unit known as the Newfoundland Regiment was formed, and this received its baptism of fire in Gallipoli, in September, 1915. In February, 1918, after much other active service, the king granted the Newfoundland Regiment the title of "Royal," the first such honour bestowed during the war. The forestry corps, numbering about 1,000 men, did useful work in Scotland. The Dominion also provided nearly 3,000 seamen to the Newfoundland R.N.R., who served in warships and armed auxiliaries.
In the West Indies there was already in existence the historic West India Regiment which had originated in 1778 as the South Carolina Corps, consisting of volunteers, white and black, raised to fight the French in the West Indies. During the war it served in Egypt and Palestine, and took part in the conquest of the Cameroons. The British West India Regiment was formed during the war from contingents of the inhabitants of the West India islands. The 1st and 2nd battalions distinguished themselves notably in Palestine. Amongst the many exterior regiments who retained their territorial identity, there must not be forgotten the Guernsey Light Infantry, who, following the New-foundlanders, earned their laurels with the 29th Division whilst serving in France and Flanders.