As a British Crown Colony, the Leeward Islands – incorporating the islands of Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Saint Christopher, Nevis, Anguilla, the Virgin Islands, and (until 1940) Dominica – did not have its own independent armed forces prior to independence. There were a series of defence forces for the that existed. The men joined these local units under the command of British Army officers and some of these units used the Vickers machine gun as part of their establishment.
Second World War
Formed as an infantry battalion along similar lines to other countries in the Caribbean, there were three rifle companies. Each company headquarters included a Medium Machine Gun section with two Vickers machine guns.
Sources
- The National Archives, WO 24/945, War Establishments 1942 October to December.
