MOTIVATION AND MOBILIZATION FOR WAR - RECRUITMENT FOR THE BRITISH-ARMY IN THE BECHUANALAND PROTECTORATE, 1941-42

This article traces the process of recruiting Batswana men into the Br itish army in Bechuanaland during the Second World War. Tt outlines th e motives and political aims that led the chiefs to offer wholehearted support for the war effort and examines the attitude of the British a dministration to African participation in the war. The outlook of the men who were required to join the army is also analysed, as are the me thods used to induce them to enlist. Therefore a picture of the recrui tment process is created that features perspectives drawn from all lev els of colonial society. The article is a contribution to existing lit erature addressing the subject of Bechuanaland during the Second `Worl d War, and to-the general literature on Africa and the war. It focuses more closely on the recruitment process than has been the case to dat e and makes extensive use of oral material to provide an African persp ective on a process that is usually viewed from 'above'.