Solomon Islands Labour Corps
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The Solomon Islands Labour Corps (SILC) was a
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
organization of about 3,200 native Solomon Islanders who served in the allied war effort. The corps were stationed at all military establishments, especially the large bases at Guadalcanal, the
Russell Islands :''See also Russell Island (disambiguation).'' The Russell Islands are two small islands ( Pavuvu and Mbanika), as well as several islets, of volcanic origin, in the Central Province of Solomon Islands. They are located approximately northwest o ...
, and
Tulagi Tulagi, less commonly known as Tulaghi, is a small island——in Solomon Islands, just off the south coast of Ngella Sule. The town of the same name on the island (pop. 1,750) was the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate from 1 ...
. It was established in 1942 and functioned until 1946. Others worked in the
British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force The British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force (BSIPDF) was a locally recruited military unit in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate during World War II. It was created following the outbreak of war with Japan in 1942 and disbanded ...
. Officially, members of the corps received one pound per month in wages, although in practice they earned more from generous Americans for souvenirs or personal services. Political ideas from Americans about self-determination and class consciousness spread, and it was former members of the SILC who began the anti-colonial Maasina Ruru movement after the war. The meshing of different language groups in the corps and their contact with Americans had significant impact on
Pijin Pijin (Solomons Pidgin or Neo-Solomonic) is a language spoken in Solomon Islands. It is closely related to Tok Pisin of Papua New Guinea and Bislama of Vanuatu; these might be considered dialects of a single language. It is also related to T ...
, the Solomon Islands pidgin.


References

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Further reading

* Geoffrey M. White, David Gegeo, Karen Ann Watson-Gegeo, and David Akin (editors). ''Bikfala Faet: Olketa Solomon Aelanda Rimembarem Wol Wo Tu / The Big Death: Solomon Islanders Remember World War II''. Solomon Islands in World War II Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in World War II Non-combatant military personnel