The Solomon Islands Labour Corps (SILC) was a World War II organization of about 3,200[1] 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, and Tulagi. It was established in 1942 and functioned until 1946.[2] Others worked in the British Solomon Islands Protectorate Defence Force.

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.[3]

The meshing of different language groups in the corps and their contact with Americans had significant impact on Pijin, the Solomon Islands pidgin.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Pacific Memories: Island Encounters of World War II". Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  2. ↑ Brij V. Lal, Edward D. Beechert, and Doug Munro. Plantation Workers: Resistance and Accommodation, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1993. Page 162.
  3. ↑ Lal et al., 163.
  4. ↑ "Solomon Islands Pijin - History". Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-12.

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.
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