'56 is too early, given how much of east Africa was under British colonial control into the 60s, and how much of S/E Asia was still looking for independence. It's likely the population of the empire was still above 100mn at the time. I'd say '56 is more like the start of the very rapid decline of the empire.
It highlighted both to the colonised and the colonisers that the empire was way over-extended.
Another "beginning of the end" moment might be the Ugandan Asians incident of 1972: the Empire had "free movement" of subjects, but only so long as very few of them used it to come to Britain.
Those who had (the right to) British passports were allowed in, right? So similar to the recent situation with regard to BN(O) people in HK.
There was a lot of free movement within the empire other than to the UK too. Many people left India, in particular, for west Africa, SE Asia. Some of my ancestors moved to Sri Lanka.
My grandfather was a "home child", basically a war orphan indentured, his contract sold to a farmer in Canada, while his brother went to Australia, never to be seen again.
But at the time, even for normal moves to Canada or other places, people were worried that their children would not be Subjects of The Empire.
So promises were made, that if subjects moved to a colony, their Grandchildren would be British". This was still a pledge in the 20s when my grandfather arrived in Canada, and thus I am eligible for a UK "Ancestry VISA".
This only works if your grandfather was born in the UK, amd went to a colony, and my point?
Well, eventually the last person capable of exercising this right will be gone. Maybe 30 years?
pjc50|1 year ago
graemep|1 year ago
There was a lot of free movement within the empire other than to the UK too. Many people left India, in particular, for west Africa, SE Asia. Some of my ancestors moved to Sri Lanka.
b112|1 year ago
My grandfather was a "home child", basically a war orphan indentured, his contract sold to a farmer in Canada, while his brother went to Australia, never to be seen again.
But at the time, even for normal moves to Canada or other places, people were worried that their children would not be Subjects of The Empire.
So promises were made, that if subjects moved to a colony, their Grandchildren would be British". This was still a pledge in the 20s when my grandfather arrived in Canada, and thus I am eligible for a UK "Ancestry VISA".
This only works if your grandfather was born in the UK, amd went to a colony, and my point?
Well, eventually the last person capable of exercising this right will be gone. Maybe 30 years?
It is another point in the end of empire.
b112|1 year ago
Indian, Canadian, etc etc troops marching in step. Within a decade so many gone.
But I agree I think, that the 50s seem too soon.
Still, that last march is an important symbol.
082349872349872|1 year ago
(3 decades sounds long to me, but it would allow a royal wedding and the recovery of Las islas Malvinas to be the last gasp of empire?)