After the First World War, the appalling level of attrition and casualties had left large numbers of dependants and disabled service men and women, and civilians, requiring urgent help. Three million Commonwealth soldiers fought in this war of which 440,000 were casualties. The role which the League undertook during this period covered assistance with pension advice, migration to other countries, tracing lost relatives, mail transfers of money and assistance with disability claims. A key aspect of the Second World War had been the contribution of 4.5 million Commonwealth service men and women from the Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Caribbean of which 360,000 became casualties. The government of some of the countries which had provided service men and women to fight for our freedom either ignored the needs of the ex-service men and women who had fought for the Crown or considered that to be a responsibility of the UK Government. In 1982 the need for more funds to help those ex-service men and women receiving no pension or any help from their own government was so urgent that the Prince Philip Appeal for Commonwealth Veterans was launched.