During the Second World War there was a huge demand for timber. It was required for pit props, required in vast numbers for the coal industry which fuelled steel production and hence armaments; hutting for the services; radio towers; as well as to repair bomb damage to buildings and railways. This increased demand came at a time when overseas supplies of timber (mainly from Canada) were severely curtailed. It was therefore necessary to increase domestic production and to do so required labour at a time when there was a severe labour shortage.

The solution came from British Honduras (now Belize) and, when volunteer workers were asked for in 1941, 900 came forward to help, despite tales of how cold it would be compared to their home. Some of them had even been told that it was so cold in Britain that the words would freeze as they came out of one's mouth, and they would have to be melted in a frying pan before anyone could hear what had been said! Most had not seen snow before, although it was not long after their arrival in October 1941 that they were able to enjoy the new experience. It did take the men from British Honduras some time to acclimatise, one man even resorting to sleeping with 14 blankets that winter!

The forestry workers were used to the giant hardwood trees at home and compared to these, the smaller softwood trees in East Lothian seemed like "matchsticks." Nonetheless, the work they carried out was of vital importance to the war effort and more and more men were gradually brought over from British Honduras, another 400 arriving in November 1942.

Their life in Scotland was not all work, however, and one group formed a band which played at Tranent, whose musical skills were much appreciated. They were also considered very good dancers, a skill to which local girls took very kindly. This partly explains why the second contingent of forestry workers were sent to remote areas of the Highlands! Some of the men were repatriated in December 1943, but others stayed on in Scotland, some of them marrying local girls.