How Was Empire Represented in the Years 1914-1947 and to What Extent Were Imperial Ideals Prevalent in Britain?

  • Changes in mass media increased way in which empire could be represented to people in Britain. Changes in messages conveyed as explicit jingoism lost attraction after horrors of First World War. Empire represented as more of a family of nations.
  • Empire Day celebrations sought to create sense of belonging to family of nations, owing allegiance to same monarch. Participants wore national dress however some did not respond to these events as much as others did. Tommy Wray from Leeds on Empire Day said ‘24th May was Empire Day. We, as children, didn’t know what it meant; all we knew was it meant a party in the street.’
  • During early stages of World War II, believed important to promote positive images of Empire, given the importance of Empire and Commonwealth to war effort. Ministry of Information films such as 49th Parallel and West Indies Calling stressed need for tolerance and understanding of other ethnicities in Europe.

Pro-imperial propaganda perhaps suggests Empire was not as well known in Britain and not popular. Differences in social classes also meant different extent of imperial ideals as members of affluent middle classes had family employed in colonial services or others involved in trade with Empire. Many working class had no personal interest in Empire as it held not much relevance in their lives.