At the outbreak of the Second World War West Indians again tried to enlist in the British army and again met with resistance. The War Office did not want to raise a West Indian regiment but allowed those who made their own way to the UK to enlist in the army. Almost 10,000 West Indians enlisted in the army after first travelling to Britain.

After much discussion between the Colonial Office and the War Office the Caribbean Regiment was formed in April 1944 with about 1,200 men, most of who were volunteers from the local defence forces. The regiment was trained in Virginia, USA, and on 8 June 1944 were the first British regiment to celebrate the king's birthday in the US since the American Revolution.

The Caribbean Regiment was transferred to Italy in June 1944 and later guarded prisoners of war in Egypt but did not see any action. The Caribbean Regiment was disbanded in 1946.

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