The West India Regiment (1888) 1888–1891: Lt-Gen. Sir Patrick Leonard MacDougall, KCMG 1891–1910: Gen. William John Chamberlayne 1910–1927: Maj-Gen. Henry Jardine Hallowes 1927: Regiment disbanded 1959: Regiment re-formed 1959–1962: Gen. Sir Gerald William Lathbury, GCB, DSO, MBE, KStJ (to Jamaica Regiment) 1962: Regiment disbanded Uniform and traditions For the first half century of its existence the WIR wore the standard uniform (shako, red coat and dark coloured or white trousers) of the British line infantry of the period. The various units were distinguished by differing facing colours. One unusual feature was the use of slippers rather than heavy boots. In 1856 a very striking uniform was adopted for the regiments, modelled on that of the French Zouaves (see illustrations above). It comprised a red fez wound about by a white turban, scarlet sleeveless jacket with elaborate yellow braiding worn over a long-sleeved white waistcoat, and dark blue voluminous breeches piped in yellow. This distinctive uniform was retained for full dress throughout the regiment until 1914 and by the band alone until disbandment in 1927. It survives as the full dress of the band of the modern Barbados Defence Force. Members Henry Hadley, Said to be, as a civilian, the first British casualty of World War I. Leslie Thompson, member of the Band of the West India Regiment in the 1920s. Lieutenant William Davis died 1 June 1860 in Belize British Hondura. Other West Indian Regiments British West Indies Regiment Surprisingly limited use was made of the long serving regulars of the West India Regiment during World War I. However, in 1915 a second West Indies regiment was formed from Caribbean volunteers who had made their way to Britain. Initially, these volunteers were drafted into a variety of units within the British Army, but in 1915 it was decided to group them together into a single regiment, named the British West Indies Regiment. The similarity of titles has sometimes led to confusion between this war-time unit and the long established West India Regiment. Both were recruited from black Caribbean recruits and a number of officers from the WIR were transferred to the BWIR. The regiment played a significant role in the First World War, especially in Palestine and Jordan where they were employed in military operations against the Turkish Army. A total of 15,600 men of the British West Indies Regiment served with the Allied forces. Jamaica contributed two-thirds of these