The Empire at War: 1914–1918

What happened

When Britain entered the First World War in 1914, the whole empire was drawn in. More than three million soldiers and labourers from across the empire and Commonwealth served alongside the British Army — Indians, Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders, Africans, and more. Campaigns such as Gallipoli in 1915 cost tens of thousands of dominion lives.

Why it matters

The war showcased the empire's vast manpower, but shared sacrifice at Gallipoli and on the Western Front stirred national pride in the dominions and a growing reluctance to remain subordinate to London — the first stirrings of the empire's unravelling.

Sources

• National Army Museum. The Commonwealth and the First World War · Reputable source