Why was the Durham Regiment of Foot sent to St Vincent and St Lucia in the late 1700s?
Freedom struggles by enslaved people in the West Indies led to thousands of soldiers from Great Britain being sent to quash the freedom fighters and the Indigenous peoples (known as the Caribs). This included people from the Northeast of England.

Carib War Medal 1773
Image courtesy of the National Army Museum.
Who are the Caribs?
Indigenous people in the West Indies are also known as the Kalinago.
You should learn more about the Kalinago and The West Indies!
Then come back here to see how they resisted colonisation along with formally enslaved people.
Resistance
In the 1790s the Caribs, as well as people who had freed themselves from enslavement, fought back against British rule.
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They were aided by the French.
Durham Regiment of Foot
The Regiment was formed in in 1758. Its first colonel was John Lambton from County Durham. It enlisted men from the area in its early days. ​
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Between 1769 and 1773 the regiment fought against Caribs in St. Vincent.
By 1797, the rebellion had been quashed. Caribs and enslaved people were sent to Roatan in Honduras. Conditions for those captured were horrendous!
Carib War Medal 1773
Image courtesy of the National Army Museum.

Over to You!
Source Analysis
This medal, given to British soldiers who fought in the Carib War show Britain (represented by Britannia) bringing 'peace' to the region.
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What impression of the people of St Vincent does this medal portray?
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Why would it show the people like this?