hodesia's contribution to the British war effort in two World Wars is one of which her peoples are justly proud. For so small a community far removed from the theatres of war, the effort of every man and woman of British stock, as well as many of those of foreign origin, was devoted to the allied cause.

n 1939 the European population of Rhodesia was 67 000. Eight thousand Rhodesians, a higher percentage of the population than that of any other part of the Commonwealth, entered the armed services. The standing Rhodesian forces were reorganized for the purpose of sending commissioned and non-commissioned officers to other parts of the African Empire.

hodesian youth, relatively highly educated and used to dealing with Africans, made excellent officer material. Other Rhodesian volunteers fought in the Army of the Nile, flew over all theatres of war, or joined the South African Division in Italy, while no less than four hundred men from the land-locked Colony joined the Royal Navy. Reverse conscription had to be introduced in Rhodesia to prevent men in essential services from joining up. One-tenth of the serving European Rhodesians were killed or died on active service.

he establishment of the Empire Air Training Scheme in Rhodesia during 1940 brought hundreds of young men to the country from overseas and it did invaluable work. The scheme influenced many Rhodesians to join the R.A.F. Several squadrons such as 44 (Bomber), 237 (Fighter), and 266 (Fighter) became particularly Rhodesian. 266 Squadron adopted the badge of a Matabele war shield together with the motto "Hlabezulu" or Stabber of the Skies.

any decorations were gained by Rhodesians; thus fifty-nine officers were awarded the Military Cross and ninety-six the Distinguished Flying Cross.

t home Rhodesian women ran farms and businesses or joined the Auxiliary and Nursing Services. Articles supplied to the British armed forces from Rhodesia included 55000 pairs of boots in 1943 and 460 000 in 1944- 45. Timber and foodstuffs, camps for Polish refugees, internment camps, copper to keep the armaments industry going in Britain, coal for the railways and ships bound for the Middle East, all came from the labours of fewer people, African and European, than inhabit an average-sized town in England.