Former British Colonies Trivia Quiz

Answer: Straits Settlements

As for British Malaya, which also was to include two of the Strait Setlements, namely Malacca and Penang, its capital was Kuala Lumpur. As for Sarawak, its capital was Kuching. Capital of Labuan was Victoria.

Answer: British North Borneo

Sandakan, now Kota Kinabalu, was capital of British North Borneo up to 1947, when it was moved to Jesselton. The region is now called Sabah and part of independent Malaysia. Jesselton has now changed name to Kota Kinabalu.

Answer: British New Guinea

Trust Territory of New Guinea was the former German New Guinea. British New Guinea, or Papua, merged with this territory to independent state Papua-New Guinea. West Irian is another name of former Dutch New Guinea, which is now part of Indonesia.

Answer: British Guiana

The country is now called Guyana.

Answer: Gold Coast

Now called Ghana.

Answer: Bechuanaland

Now called Botswana.

Answer: Northern Rhodesia

Now called Zambia.

Answer: Southern Rhodesia

Country now called Zimbabwe, also a brief period just Rhodesia. Capital is now called Harare.

Answer: Nyasaland

Country now called Malawi, capital: Lilongwe.

Answer: Basutoland

Now called Lesotho.

Answer: British East Africa

Now called Kenya.

Answer: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Today called Sudan, which by the way would be a wrong answer to the question, as I always want former names, not present.

Answer: New Hebrides

New Hebrides were formerly under joint British and French administration. It is now independent country Vanuatu.

Answer: Gilbert and Ellice Islands

Gilbert Islands are since 1979 independent state Kiribati, Ellice Islands independent state Tuvalu.

Answer: West Indies Federation

This is a tricky one. Port of Spain is of course the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, but since this is the present name of the area it is not the answer I am looking for. Leeward Islands were a former division of West Indies Federation, but they do not include Trinidad and Tobago. Nor do the Windward Islands. Hence the right answer will be the short lived West Indies Federation, 1958-62.

Answer: British Somaliland

British Somaliland is correct. The area merged with Italian Somaliland 1960 to independent republic Somalia.The former British territory today formally is a part of Somalia, but declared independence in the 1990s under the name Somaliland after the breakdown of rule in Somalia. It is de facto 'independent', but nobody has recognized the country.

Answer: British Honduras

The country is now called Belize, and the capital is Belmopan.

Answer: Trans-Jordan

Jordan is the present name of the country and would hence be a wrong answer.

Answer: Ceylon

Today called Sri Lanka.

Answer: Muscat and Oman

Today called Oman, which is hence a wrong answer. Muscat is the capital of Oman, but also of the former British dependency Muscat and Oman. Trucial Oman refers to the area which today is United Arab Emirates.

Answer: Federation of South Arabia

The Federation of South Arabia only existed 1959-67. It consisted of territories in South Arabia controlled by native rulers in treaty relations with Great Britain. Disolved and made part of Yemen 1967. Aden was later capital of South Yemen, which united with Yemen 1990. Aden was also capital of Aden Protectorate.This territory formed Federation of South Arabia 1959-65 along with other states.

Hence the time period indicates that Federation of South Arabia is the right answer.

Answer: Hadhramaut

Tricky one too, perhaps. Mukalla was the capital of Hadhramaut, which was a union of several sultanates and sheikhdoms in treaty with Great Britain from 1882. It was made part of Yemen 1967. The name Hadhramaut still exists, but it is now a coastal province of Yemen, 1968-90 part of South Yemen.

Answer: Cape Colony

This province was occupied by British from Dutch 1795 and called Cape Colony. It was made part of independent South Africa 1910 as Cape Province.

Answer: Baluchistan

By treaty of 1876 British Baluchistan was made virtually a British dependency. Became part of Pakistan 1947-48.

Answer: Gwalior

Gwalior is now part of Indian region Madhya Pradesh. It used to be a principal state from end of 18th century to 1948. Like Hyderabad, Mysore, Jammu and Kashmir and many others it was a British vassal state. In 1948 it was made part of India. The town Gwalior was the first capital of the state Gwalior, but a new capital was built in Lashkar ca.1800.