Dr. Tommy Dolan, Senior Editor at British Online Archives (BOA), discusses colonial participation in the British war efforts with Catriona Pennell, Professor of Modern History and Memory Studies at the University of Exeter. Catriona specialises in the history of nineteenth and twentieth century Britain and Ireland, with a particular focus on the relationship between war, empire, experience, and memory. She has published on various aspects of the experience of war and empire and on understandings of cultural historical approaches to the study of modern conflict more generally. Catriona was an editorial board member for BOA’s primary source collection, the Illustrated War News, 1914–1918 & 1939. She also wrote a contextual essay for this publication: “Propaganda and the mobilisation of consent during the two world wars”.

In this episode of Talking History, Catriona and Tommy consider the necessity, and challenges, of recovering colonial experiences of the wars. They also reflect upon the way in which notions of race underpinned western thought during these major conflicts, and how colonial participation in the war efforts has been taught in British schools. Catriona and Tommy likewise consider instances of colonial resistance during the war efforts and the memorialisation of colonial troops.

Please note, this episode was recorded in July 2023.

Hosted by Dr. Tommy Dolan.
Produced by Laura Wales.