There had been resistance from the War Office to the formation of a West Indian regiment but those who made their own way to the UK were able to enlist in the British Army. Nearly 10,000 West Indians travelled and enlisted in the army in Britain. Following discussion between the Colonial Office and the War Office, however, the Caribbean Regiment was formed of 1,200 volunteers in April 1944. The recruits were drawn from all over the British West Indies, mostly members of local Volunteer Defence Forces. A few officers and Non-commissioned Officers were also drafted in from British Army units.