In July 1917, Vajiravudh sided himself with the Allied Powers and expelled the German and Austrian officials from the Railway Department and Siam Commercial Bank. He also put the properties of the Central Powers nations under government’s protectorate. Vajiravudh then saw this as an opportunity to create and promote Siamese nationalism, against the so-called enemies – the Central Powers. He changed the Flag of Siam from the elephant-banner to a tricolor one. King Vajiravudh is considered as the father of Thai nationalism, which was later built upon by Field Marshal Phibunsongkhram and Sarit Dhanarajata. He introduced the practice of using the name Rama for the Chakri kings in deference to foreign practice.

The Siamese troops were the only Southeast Asians in the European theatre In any case, the participation in the War allowed Siam to later negotiate with the Western Powers on ‘unfair’ treaties made before.

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