Sunday 20 December 2015

Christmas 1915

By December 1915, the realisation that the war was going to drag on for a long time yet started to hit home. As with today, people's thoughts turned towards Christmas and what they needed to buy. However, in wartime Britain this was easier said than done. Today we are used to an array of beautiful presents with something for every price range, yet in 1915, less and less could be found in the shops. Women were encouraged to only buy presents which was useful and those that could were encouraged to do without, in order to said the soldier's on the front line what they could. Useful gifts for the soldiers included items such as warm gloves, safety razors & cigarettes.

It was not only those on the home front whose thoughts turned to their loved ones at Christmas, for soldier's were also thinking of what to buy. The most popular item that was purchased was handmade cards from local villages near to the front line. These are more commonly known as world war one silks. They are so beautifully crafted and many came with their own personal message inside. For those of you who haven't been lucky enough to see one in the flesh, all I can say is the detail captured in these cards are truly amazing.

On the home front and the front line, people were remembering the Christmas Truce of the previous year. So were those of higher power who strongly discouraged any repeat of such an event. Soldier's were threatened that if they were caught to be in friendly company of the enemy, they would be court marshalled and the punishment would be severe. This meant that for the soldier's on the front line, it was a relatively quiet affair. With many of the soldier's fighting in Gallipoli throughout December, soldier's were battling with the bitter temperatures and fallen snow. Due to this, many soldier's in the area were suffering from frostbite and so not really in the Christmas mood. 

It wasn't just the army that were strict around Christmas, for the navy was too. Christmas Day for sailor's was highly regimented. For example, whether religious or not a sailor was first expected to attend a religious service. After the service, they would then go to the mess, where food adorned the tables as far as they eye could see. The ships Captain and officers would then sit at each of the tables and sample the food on offer. Only then would they have any free time, but they were always on high alert. 

Britain had seen some of its bloodiest battles in the war so far, and with this came a vast amount of injured soldier's, many of whom were to spend Christmas in hospital. To cheer their patients up, many of whom were suffering from horrific and life-changing injuries, nurses set about decorating the wards and organising entertainment such as concerts. 

For all of these people and many others, Christmas was celebrated in different ways. Yet they all had something in common and that was the hope that the war would be over soon, so that no more suffering came of the people of Britain. Unfortunately, this hope would not happen for another three years and there would be many who would never see the end of the war. So this Christmas take a moment to think of those people as well as those serving around the world today, of the sacrifices they paid and are still paying to keep us all safe. 

Lastly, I would just like to take this moment to thank you for your support and for reading my blog throughout the year. I would like to wish you a very merry Christmas and a prosperous and happy new year. 






Sunday 6 December 2015

Food & Drink Of The First World War

For the British people, food and drink, especially tea has always played an important part in our lives. So when the First World War broke out, how was everyone going to be able to cope, especially if the German's succeeded in cutting off our tiny island.

Before war broke out, the rich dinned at fancy restaurants and went to social events such as dinners whereas the poor tended to make so with what they could after, sometimes being only bread and dripping. Rationing wasn't to come into force until much later in the war so traditional favourites could still be enjoyed. These favourites included porridge, pies, stews, kippers and a takeaway of fish and chips if it could be afforded. 

At the outbreak of war such a vast number of men volunteered to fight, that the government had to work out how they were going to feed them all. It wasn't going to be as easy as popping to the local shops. The food had to travel across the channel, through the dangers that lurked beneath the sea, before then travelling to the trenches that needed it. The government therefore decided that there would be a restriction on how much food a soldier could have daily, thus ensuring that no matter how far down the trenches you were, you all got the same amount. The guidelines were: A pinch of both pepper and mustard, 8 ounces of fresh vegetables or a tenth of lime juice, 4 ounces of jam or 4 ounces of dried fruit, 4 ounces of butter or margerine, 3 ounces of cheese, 20 ounces of bread or 16 ounces of flour or 4 ounces of oatmeal. In terms of meat, soldiers could have 4 ounces of bacon, 1 1/4 pounds of meat or 1 pound of salt meat. Also allowed was up to half a gill of rum or 1 pint of porter per soldier. Due to the amount of time and effort it took to get the food to the soldiers, the government also stated that nothing was to be wasted. By the time bread got to the front line it was usually stale but this was not to be thrown away. Instead cooks were expected to put it in cold water and rebake for an hour to give it new life. Alternatively, slices of bread could also be put in milk and baked which turned them into rusks. Any food that was left over could be sold to local farmers to be used as swill, whilst left over dripping could be used in the manufacturing of explosives. To add flavour to their dishes, cooks was taught to look for nettles, sweet docks, wild mushrooms and marigold flowers, all of which could be used to season food. One of the most used recipes was that of the Maconochies Meat Stew, which was made up of fatty meat, sliced turnips, carrots and thin gravy. Although easy to make on a large scale, soldiers grumbled about it and said that when warm it was barely edible yet when cold it could kill. Hard biscuits, made from salt, flour and water was also widely available, however, soldiers soon realised that you needed to dunk them in a drink or loose your teeth!

Originally, the war was meant to be over by Christmas, yet as it dragged on food became scarce and things were harder to find in shops. The government distributed leaflets to homes across Britain with tips on how to use every piece of food, making sure nothing was left over. These leaflets also included how to use vegetables as a substitute for other ingredients such as potatoes to make pastry and cakes. Propaganda played a huge part on the homefront to ensure women was doing their bit for the war effort. Posters included one that stated: Women of Britain - our soldiers are beating the Germans on land, our sailors are beating them on the sea, You can beat them in the larder and the kitchen. For women, it gave them a role in the war, to ensure they used as little food as possible so that the soldiers and sailors could have the food they needed in order to fight the enemy. A book was released to help women achieve this in the form of the Win The War Cookbook, where women could find recipes with many substitute ingredients that they otherwise wouldn't have known about.  

By 1916 flour was almost non-exsistant in the trenches, so bread started being made from other ingredients such as dried potato, oats, barley and sometimes even pulverised straw. Some small French towns had opened up cafe's, often in the front room of their house, to accommodate the soldiers when they were on leave. Here a soldier would find foods they wouldn't normally eat in the daily trench life such as egg and chips. These business ventures proved popular, with many soldiers looking forward to visiting them on their next leave. With food supplies becoming more difficult to get through, soldiers were no longer getting the set amount that they had previously had in 1914 and by 1917, Bully Beef was restricted to 6 ounces a day. Although army ration packs were not introduced until after the war, each soldier did carry with them an emergency Iron Rations Kit in a tin. This was made up of various long life foods but could only be opened when told to do so by officers. Meat was also in short supply and was often substituted with horsemeat, whilst dishes such as potato pie and milk biscuit pudding became popular. 
Drink, especially water was also becoming more and more difficult to transfer to the front line, with some soldiers resorting to drinking from puddles. This as well as the poor diet, led to deficiencies in important vitamins and stomach upsets became increasingly common. The government came to the conclusion that more had to be done - An army did after all, march on its stomach. 

The answer was rationing which came into force in 1918. Everyone was issued with a ration card, even including the King and Queen and had to take it with them whenever they wanted to purchase anything on ration. Foods that were rationed included sugar, meat, flour, margarine, butter and milk. This, like on the front line, ensured that everybody was entitled to the same amount of food, rich and poor alike. 

The process of ensuring everybody had enough to eat took its time but got there towards the end. It meant that when the Second World War came along later, the government could look at the First World War techniques and make it quicker and more efficient. Rationing also brought with it new food technology that we still use today - having something dried from a packet and just adding water. By 1918 this was commonplace in custard and dried soup powder and again would have its day during the Second World War. 

Monday 23 November 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

23th November 1915

The battle of Ctesiphon between allied and Turkish forces has entered its second day of fighting. Soldiers have been fighting along the Tigris River in Mesopotamia for over 24 hours now.

Sunday 22 November 2015

Clothing during the First World War



At the outbreak of the first world war, a great influx of brave men, young and old alike, enlisted to help fight the enemy. They went marching off to war in a smart,new uniform. A uniform that was made in a factory, by hand, well before huge machines to do it themselves were made. With many factories now making uniforms instead of the latest fashions, the people of Britain were encouraged to make do and mend. This was to be a campaign that would last throughout the war and be used again in the next war. Women were expected to mend worn out items time and time again as well as taking something old and making something new out of it. 

But for those that bought or hired a seamstress to make up a dress seamed to follow a similar pattern. Gone were the long, narrow skirts, in their place was a skirt that was a whole 8 inches above the ground, that took a bell-like shape. This was a sign of the times, with many women taking on jobs that had previously been done by men. They needed to be able to move freely whilst doing manual work, not be restricted. The fuller skirt was seen as a waste of material by many,but not only was it more practical, but it also made a new war-time silhouette. The shorter skirt razed many eyebrows but needs must - the was a war on!

Also noticeably different was the colours and patterns. Less decorations could be seen on the dresses and they were made in drab colours unlike the previous bright and bold colours. This was due in most part to the lack of dyes available. It was seen, among the society ladies, as unpatriotic to have bright coloured dresses with feathers and beads as decoration and there are instances where a lady has been shunned by others due to the detail on her dress at a dinner. 

In terms of design of dresses, they took on a military theme, with many of the dresses sporting epaulettes or gold shining buttons.This was also the birth of the trench coat, that, to this day is still hugely popular.

For the poor, they carried on wearing the same drab and worn clothes they had previously done as they couldn't afford to do anything else. Yet they still keep there Sunday best just for church each week!

By the end of the war, with women going back to the home, the style of dresses reverted almost back to how it was pre-war. The only difference, some of the dresses were a shorter, although not 8 inches shorter. The fashion of the time had changed with the women's lives throughout the war, depending on what they were doing. Women would have to wait until the 1920s flapper dress before they would see the much shorter styles again.


Sunday 8 November 2015

A Day To Remember Them

On this day, Remembrance Sunday, it is a time for reflection. A day when millions of people around the world, pay there respects to those who fought for our freedom. Some of whom never came home, were injured mentally and physically as well as all those families affected by war. It is a day to remember the war dead on both sides for they are no longer enemies, to many of them, they were fighting a cause they believed in and for others they were too scared to go against the norm. 

Throughout the years, there have been many conflicts, some of which people thought were unjust. But today isn't about that - it is about all the brave men and women who signed the pledge to fight for Queen and Country what ever the cost may be. 

Therefore on this Remembrance Sunday, I would like to dedicate this post in memory of all those who fought to keep people like me safe and able to do the everyday things I do today. 

I would also like to share with you an unsigned poem that can be found at the Royal British Legion Club in Limassol, Cyprus:

Why wear a poppy?

"Please wear a poppy", the lady said. 
And held one out, but I shook my head.
Then I stopped and watched as she offered them, there, 
And her face was old and lined with care,
But beneath the lines the years had made
There remained a smile that refused to fade.

A boy came whistling down the street,
Bouncing along on carefree feet,
"Lady", he said, "Can I have one?"
When she'd pinned it on he turned to say,
"Why do we were a poppy today?"

The lady smiled in a wistful way
And answered, "This is Remembrance Day,
And the Poppy there, is the symbol for,
The gallant men who died in war,
And because they did, you and I are free,
That's why we wear a poppy, you see.

I had a boy about your size,
With golden hair and big blue eyes.
He loved to play and jump and shout,
Free as a bird he would race about.
As the years went by he learned and grew
And became a man - as you will too.

He was fine and strong, with a boyish smile,
But he seemed to be with us such a short while.
When war broke out he went away:
I still remember his face that day,
When he smiled at me and said, "Goodbye, I'll be back soon Mum, so please don't cry".

But the war went on and he had to stay,
And all I could do was wait and pray.
His letters told of the awful fight
(I see it still in my dreams at night).
With the tanks and guns and the cruel barbed wire,
And the mines and bullets, the bombs and fire.

Till at last, at last, the war was won,
"So that's why we were a poppy, son!"
The small boy turned as if to go,
The said, "Thanks lady, I'm glad to know,
That really did sound an awful fight,
But, your son, did he come back alright?"

A tear rolled down the faded cheek;
She shook her head but could not speak. 
I slunk away, feeling sick with shame,
And if you'd been me you'd have done the same.
For our thanks, in giving, is oft delayed,
Though our freedom was bought - and thousands paid.

And so when you see a poppy worn,
Try to think of the heavy burden borne
By those, who gave their very all
When asked to respond to their country's call:
That we at home in peace might live.
So wear a Poppy! Remember! Give!


Tuesday 29 September 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

29th September 1915

The first transcontinental radio telephone message has been sent, giving a new turning point in the war.

The British army has conquered Chilly Al Imara in Mesopotamia.

Sunday 27 September 2015

Children Of The Great War Part 2

At the outbreak of war, children's routines were very much unchanged. The would get up, wash with a jug of cold water, have breakfast, go to school, finish school, do any homework given and then go out to play until told to come in. However, this changed slightly, with more and more mothers going out to work in factories and other jobs. If families weren't lucky enough to live with grandparents, many children were left to see to younger siblings whilst their mothers were at work. This meant the eldest child was usually responsible for getting their brothers and sisters up, washed, breakfast for them and all at school on time. With mothers at work some children even had to join the rest of England in queuing at shops to get the food needed for the family.

As well as doing normal school subjects, children were also expected to help with the war effort at school. This included knitting scarves and socks for soldiers at the front line, collecting tin cans for recycling, working on the school vegetable plot and even in schools in the countryside helping with the harvest. Many children would also be expected to help with the housework after school so as a result of the war, many children had more responsibility.

Saturdays were usually the first time of the week where they had plenty of time to themselves. if they were lucky, their mothers might have been able to spare the money for them to go to the cinema, if not they would more likely be found playing with their friends in the street. Saturday night was bath night, so that everyone was clean ready for church in the morning.

Sundays for children normally consisted of church with the family in the morning and then Sunday school in the afternoon. Sunday school wasn't all religious studies all afternoon, instead many in the country took the pupils on outings either to the beach or somewhere else close by. For children from poorer backgrounds, these outings were much anticipated and were more often than not the only outings they went on.

Life seemed to go on as usual for the children of the Great War, except for a few minor changes except that many children were left anxiously working about their fathers, many of whom were away fighting on the front line. They were just carrying on as usual, waiting for their fathers to return.

Friday 25 September 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

25th September 1915

The Battle of Loos has begun. This long and devastating battle was to last until the 14th October. The British deployed Chlorine gas across to the German front line, however due to the strong wind current, this was quickly blown back across No Mans Land and back to the British Front Line. An estimated 59,000 British & 26,000 German casualties were the result of this battle.

The Second Battle of Champagne has begun.

Sunday 13 September 2015

Children Of The Great War Part 1

At the outbreak of war, many people across England didn't really want to go to war. Men thought of being heroes of war but not of the horrors war entailed. Women didn't want to have to send their husbands and sons off to war. Yet there was some that were looking forward to war, even if they didn't really understand what war was... and that was children.

For months before the outbreak of war, children had been reading and listening to adults about the pros and cons of war and if it was really going to take place. But what was life really like for children of the First World war ... In this series I intend to find out.

When war broke out, factories up and down the country were needed to make things for the war from uniform to munitions. Across England, the government was urging people to help with the war effort and this included factories as well. This meant that factories were no longer able to make children's toys. Before the outbreak of war, toys would more often than not have a clockwork mechanism and would be made from cloth, wood, leather, metal or china. However, soon after the outbreak of war, toys became harder to find, with household items being recycled to make home-made toys. Toys that children already had were prize possessions and highly sought after. The favourites were dolly's, teddy bears, large hoops, blow football, marbles and model sailing boats complete with string to guide them. Toys did however take a more wartime theme with patriotic uniforms for teddy bears, a trench football game and even Kill Kiel game, where the objective is to sink the German submarines. 

Many children also liked to read. Pre-war favourites included The Secret Garden and The Railway Children. The rainbow and Suzie Sunshine was also favourites to keep children entertained whilst Boys Own Annual and Penny War Weekly inspired boys with their heroic wartime stories and adventures, with them displaying the enemy as Germans. 

Sometimes, if parents could afford it, children could look forward to days out. Music halls regularly staged fund-raising events to help the war effort. Another popular past time was to go to the cinema - although they were very different to what they are today. They were in black and white and had no sound, so somebody would play appropriate music on a piano. Charlie Chaplin was the main star children wanted to watch but cinemas also showed newsreels so that people could keep up to date with the news. 

For children, whose parents couldn't afford to do these things, many of them would go out in the street and play with the friends with popular games being skipping, hopscotch and football. For the children of the Great War, life wasn't all doom and gloom, it was very much still an adventure but things were changing and new challenges faced families ...


Tuesday 1 September 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

1st September 1915

The German ambassador pledges to the US that German submarines will no longer sink liners without warning, providing safety of the passengers and crew - a consequence of the sinking of the British liner SS Arabic where 44 people were killed.

Monday 31 August 2015

The Boy Scouts And Girl Guides Of The Great War

At the outbreak of the First World War, with many men volunteering to fight, certain roles were taken up by the Boy Scouts. The Boy Scouts saw a rise in the number of boys that had joined at the outbreak of war - everybody wanted to do their bit to help the war effort. They were too young to join the army or the navy and so this was the next best thing. 

These Boy Scouts were tasked with carrying out important war work such as watching the skies for Zeppelin raids, sounding their bugle to warn of imminent attacks and again once the threat had cleared. They also carried different, most often important messages around the immediate area. They could be set to getting help for a casualty, or carrying messages amongst home front organisations. Boy Scouts carried out various other jobs depending on what was needed - after all, most able-bodied men were away fighting, with older men left behind, most of whom wouldn't be able to run for several minutes to get a message to someone. The Boy Scouts became highly respected for the work they were doing. 

For the girls there was the Girl Guiding. They were expected to undertake different, more female roles. These included parcelling up clothing to send to the frontline, delivering milk, learning and carrying out basic first aid as well as also deliveries messages, similar to the Boy Scouts. There is also rumours, of which the truth will probably never be made public, that the Girl Guides were also involved in delivering messages on behalf of MI5. It is believed that the Girl Guides were the second choice, with the Boy Scouts being the first choice. However, MI5 are said to have believed the boys to be to wild, sometimes naughty and more often than not highly talkative, something that MI5 didn't want. 

Both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Guides gave children a purpose in the war, which I think boosted morale to thousands of children across the country and gave them a sense of purpose. With many of them missing fathers and other male family members who were on the front line, being part of the organisations meant that time was taken up carrying out their 'duties', taking their mind off other events. However, I do also think that the duties they were carrying out made them feel older and I think they left their childhood behind them sooner than they would have in peacetime.

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

26th August 1915

The Russian city of Best-Litovsk is currently overrun with German troops.

Tuesday 25 August 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

25th August 1915

British forces are currently trying to recapture Constantinople and force Turkey out of the war.

78,000 Anzac troops have landed at Gallipoli.

Sunday 23 August 2015

Wednesday 19 August 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

19th August 1915

Rationing laws have gone into effect in the Netherlands.

The Battle of Van has begun.

The British liner, SS Arabic, has been sunk by a German submarine without warning, whilst sailing from Liverpool to New York. It is reported to 44 people have lost their lives.

Sunday 9 August 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

9th August 1915

A British attack at Chanak Bair, Gallipoli has taken place. British Lieutenant Henry Longbottom has sadly died in battle.

Thursday 6 August 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

6th August 1915

More British troops have landed at Suvla Bay on the northern shore of Gallipoli in an effort to break the stalemate on the peninsula.

Wednesday 5 August 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

5th August 1915

Russian soldiers have evacuated Warsaw, where shortly afterwards it was occupied by German troops.

Tuesday 21 July 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

21st July 1915

US President Wilson has sent the third Lusitania note from America, warning Germany that future infringement of American rights will be deemed "deliberately unfriendly".

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

15th July 1915

The head of German propaganda in the US, Dr Heinrich Albert has lost his briefcase on a subway in New York City. 

The Austro-German forces have launched an offensive along the Eastern Front.


Later an extensive examination of the lost briefcase's content revealed an extensive network of German espionage and subversion across America.

Friday 10 July 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

10th July 1915

British and South African troops have marched straight into former German occupied South West Africa.

Thursday 9 July 2015

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day

8th July 1915

Germany has replied to President Wilson's Lusitania note by saying that American ships may sail through Europe with no harm coming to them as long as they are clearly marked neutral. None of President Wilson's demands have been met.

Friday 3 July 2015

The Great War - Flying Aces

On 18th August 1894, William Lambert was born in Ohio. In 1917, he joined the Royal Flying Corps and by 20th March 1918, after completing his training, William was flying SE.5A.

Between April and August 1918, William was able to score 18 victories and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. After completing a vast number of combat missions, William was sent back to England after suffering from Combat Fatigue. He was still in hospital when the news of Armistice was announced. 

After the war, William worked as an engineer but at the start of the war he left and joined the Army Air Forces. In 1954 he retired from the US Air Force as Lieutenant Colonel and in 1973 he wrote about his experience in his memoir titled "Combat Report". 

William died on 19th March 1982 aged 87.

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Life AT War - Day By Day - June

On the 3rd June 1915, Austro-German forces recaptured Przemysl which proved to be a crucial city in the south east area of Poland. Subsequently, the entire Russian Front begins to collapse.

On the 9th June 1915, William Jennings Bryan quits as US Secretary of State. US President Wilson personally sent the second Lusitania note to Germany, demanding reparations and prevention of "recurrence of anything so obviously subversive of the principles of warfare". President Wilson refuses to recognise the "warzone" that Germany has proclaimed around the British Isles.

On the 10th June 1915, British and French troops conquered the German colony of Cameroon.

On the 21st June 1915, an Anti-British revolt in South Africa ended with the arresr of General De Law.

On the 23rd June 1915, Italian troops launch the first of what was to become 11 battles to dislodge Austrian troops from the Isonzo River, which separates the Italians from Trieste.

Friday 26 June 2015

The Great War - Flying Aces

On the 28th May 1893, Donald Maclaren was born in Canada. In 1914, Donald, his father and his brother had opened a fur trading post but by 1916 this was closed to help the war effort instead. Donald joined the Royal Flying Corps.

In November 1917, after extensive training, Donald was sent to France. His first combat mission didn't take place until February where he shot down a German fighter plane. By March 1918, Donald had helped destroy a railway gun, then go on to shoot down a balloon as well as two German LVG two seaters. For this he was awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

When his Squadron Commander was killed in a crash, Donald was promoted to the role. In late October, whilst competing in a friendly wrestling match with his comrades, Donald broke his leg and was subsequently sent back to hospital in England. He was still there when the Armistice news filtered through. 

By the end of the war Donald had seen just seven months of combat. However in this time he had a Military Cross & Bar, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the DSO, the French Legion of Honour and the Croix De Guerre to his name.

After the war, Donald spent two years in command of the Canadian pilots stationed in England with the Royal Canadian Airforce before later forming Pacific Airways. He died on the 4th July 1988 in British Columbia aged 95.

Life AT War - Day By Day - May 1915

On the 13th May 1915, the US Secretary of State Bryan sent a note to Germany, demanding that German admits and apologises for the attacking and sinking of the Lusitania and insists that Germany should make immediate reparations. Later Bryan was to say that the note was originally only sent to "pacify excited public opinion".

On the 23rd May 1915, Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary.

On the 24th May 1915, a man called Thomas Edison invented new technology, still used today, that enabled us to record telephone conversations. 

On the 25th May 1915, the second battle of Ypres ended with over 105,000 casualties.


Sunday 26 April 2015

Saturday 25 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

25th April 1915

The first landings at Gaba Tepe and Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula have taken place.

Friday 24 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

24th April 1915

It has been reported that the German army has been firing Chloroform gas in Ieper.
A large massacre of Armenian people by Turkish soldiers has begun.

The large massacre that took place would later be called Armenian Martyrs Day.

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Life At War - Day by Day

22nd April 1915

German has a new war tactic - using Chlorine Gas, a poisonous substance, on enemy trenches.
The second Battle of Ypres has begun on the Western Front.

The German use of poison gas would have catastrophic consequences and would kill or injure thousands of men before the end of the war. Some soldiers, once back at home after the war, were a shadow of their former self, some unable to see or breathe properly and many bedridden. 

Monday 20 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

20th April 1915

The Armenian soldiers have risen and seized the Turkish town of Van.

These soldiers were to hold the town until Russian re-inforcements arrived. These did not arrive until a month later on the 19th May, by which time, thousands of Armenian's had been killed or injured.

Saturday 18 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

18th April 1915

The French pilot Roland Garros has reportly been shot down. He was last seen gliding to land on the German side of the front line.

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

14th April 1915

The Dutch merchant navy have reported that their ship Katwijk has been sunk by a German torpedo. Turkish forces have invaded Armenia.

Sunday 5 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

5th April 1915

The French military have begun an offensive to be known as the Woevre offensive.

Saturday 4 April 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

4th April 1915

Germany has been protesting vigorously to the US after claiming it must insist that Britain lifts its blockade and assert German neutrality. 

Sunday 29 March 2015

The Great War - Flying Aces

Edward Rickenbacker was born in Colombus, Ohio on the 8th October 1890. As a young man at the start of the first world war, Edward was a leading racing car driver and was subsequently given the role of being chauffeur to General John Pershing. 

By March 1918, Edward grew restless of driving and wanted to do something more for the war effort and so joined the US Air Service. He soon became one of the US's leading flying aces after having 26 victories to his name in a short period of time. Whilst on a reconnaissance mission, Edward single handedly attacked seven enemy aircraft and was awarded the Medal of Honour for his bravery. 

Edward survived the war and later went on to fight during the second world war as well.  

Wednesday 25 March 2015

The Great War - Flying Aces

1890, Hampshire, a boy named Lanoe Hawker was born. Years later, at the outbreak of the first world war, Lanoe joined the Royal Flying Corp and was flying the BE-2. During April 1915, Lanoe attacked the Zeppelin Plant at Gontrobe and was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In July that same year, Lanoe became the first fighter pilot ever to be awarded the Victoria Cross and was also promoted to the rank of Major. 

On the 23rd Novemeber 1916, Lanoe was flying an Airco DH-2, whilst taking part in what would be known as one of the longest dogfights of the first world war, was shot down and killed by German flying ace Manfred Von Richthofen.

Life At War - Day by Day

25th March 1915

A US F-4 submarine has sunk off of the coast of Hawaii, killing 21 men. A German U-Boat has torpedoed the merchant ship Medea, casualties unknown at this time.

Monday 23 March 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

23rd March 1915

Around 700 Jewish men have formed a fighting force to be known under the name Zion Mule Corp. They will be under the British Armies Rule and will help fight where ever it is needed.

Sunday 22 March 2015

The Great War - Flying Aces

Ontario, 1894 a boy named William Bishop was born. Years later in 1914, this young man joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but by 1915, he had transferred to the British Royal Flying Corp. He high skills meant that he was soon promoted to Commander of the Flying Foxes. In twelve days he had scored 25 victories and so was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

On the 2nd June 1917, William single handedly attacked a German aerodrome and was awarded the Victoria Cross. By the end of the war, William had a staggering 72 victories to his name and continued his service in the Canadian Airforce.

Wednesday 18 March 2015

Life AT War - Day by Day

18th March 1915

A British attack in Dardanelles has failed.

The French battleship Bouvet has exploded, killing 640 people.

The Great War - Flying Aces

On the 26th September 1897, Arthur Rhys-Davids was born in Forest Hill. Aged just 19, on the 28th August 1916, Arthur joined the Royal Flying Corps as a Second Lieutenant. After completing his training, Arthur was sent to France, arriving in early 1917. He flew the SE-5, a plane which was extremely popular amongst the Allied pilots for its manoeuvrability as well as its speed and easy to fly status. 

Arthur's first combat flight took place on 7th May 1917, where he was unfortunate to be witness to flying ace Albert Ball being killed in action. By the end of the month, Arthur had five victories to his name, probably more determined to fight the enemy after the events he had witnessed. He was now classed as one of the few Flying Aces. 

Within six months of being in France, Arthur was awarded the Military Cross and just a few short months later was awarded the Military Cross and Bar. He also agreed to be painted by William Orpen. 

On the 23rd September 1917, Arthur was one of the few pilots that helped to shoot down German flying ace Werner Voss. Despite his huge success, on the 27th October 1917, Arthur went missing east of Roeselare. It took until 18th March 1918, for it to be declared that Arthur was killed in action, after being shot down by Karl Gallwitz.

Arthur had achieved so much during his short life and had known no fear, he was just doing what he could to help win the war. Because of his efforts, he was post humorously awarded the Distinguished Service Order, although unfortunately, he would never know it. 

Wednesday 11 March 2015

The Great War - Flying Aces

In this next mini series I thought I would share with you some of the brave flying aces that fought on the Allies side during the First World War. In the previous mini series, you will have learnt about that types of aircraft that were used, so I thought it would be only fair to share with you some of the stories of the men that actually used them.

The first Ace I would like to share with you is unfortunately one of many that never saw the end of the war. He died aged just twenty years old and had the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross and the Croix De Guerre medals to his name. This is the story of Albert Ball...

Albert was born in Nottingham, England on 14th August 1896. At the outbreak of the war Albert had been studying Engineering but stopped to instead join the Sherwood Foresters. These were men that fought on the ground and were sent to many countries including France and India at the start of the war. But Albert was restless and so transferred to the new Royal Flying Corps in May 1916 and became just one of many pilots to provide air support during the Battle of the Somme.

By October that year, Albert had an astounding thirty victories to his name and was written about in newspapers back on the home front where he was hailed a hero. He was then promoted to Flight Commander of 56 Squadron where he became well respected amongst the other pilots.

But Albert's story comes to an abrupt end. On 6th May 1917, he engages in a dogfight with a German plane. The planes collided mid air and his body was later discovered in the wreckage. He had seen more than a boy his age should ever see and had carried out his role as fighter pilot to his best ability. 

Albert's story continued to be written about back home but many people never knew about his death. Through the newspapers he had become an inspiration to aspiring pilots and a few men that were to become flying Aces themselves, joined up after hearing about one Albert Ball. To tell the public of his death would have lowered morale and would probably have stopped many of the pilots from joining up. It would have shown the true danger of flying aircraft on the Front Line.

Tuesday 10 March 2015

International Women's Day Part 2

As promised here is part two of the stories of just some of the many heroines of the first world war. 

On the 24th January 1862, Edith Wharton was born in New York City. Pre-war Edith had bought a apartment in Paris and at the outbreak of the first world war, she decided to move back to the apartment, situated on the Rue De Varenne. Here, Edith opened a sewing work room that would provide unemployed 'work-girls' meals & one franc in exchange for their work. 
In the autumn of 1914, Paris became overrun with Belgian refugees after Germany had invaded Belgium. These people had nothing and no where to go. Edith again decided to help by setting up Hostels specifically for the refugees. Not only did it offer a place to stay, Edith also arranged meals and clothing and eventually started an employment agency in order to help the refugees find work.
Throughout the war, Edith worked tirelessly, supporting charities who helped refugees, the injured, the unemployed and the displaced. She even organised concerts which provided musicians with an income. On 18th April 1916, Edith was awarded a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.
Edith worked hard to raise funds to help various charities. Most of the money received were donations sent over from the American people, who wanted to help with the war effort. Edith was able to raise tens of thousands of dollars, which enabled her to open tuberculosis hospitals after an the disease broke out in the trenches.

On the 9th August 1867 Evelina Haverfield was born in Kingussie in Scotland. A well known British Suffragette and aid worker, at the outbreak of the first world war, Evelina set up the Women's Emergency Corps. In 1915, Evelina joined Elsie Inglis and worked tirelessly helping the injuried in Serbia, until they were evacuated in 1917.

Flora Sandes was born on 22nd January 1876 in Yorkshire. In 1914, Flora volunteered to become a nurse but was turned down due to a lack of qualifications. Undeterred, she instead joined the St John's Ambulance and on the 12th August 1914 left for Serbia with thirty-six other women. Flora & Evelina decided to set up a fund for promoting comforts for Serbian soldiers and prisoners. This was carried on through the end of the war and beyond. In order to raise enough funds, Flora wrote a book by using her diaries to share her experiences.
During a difficult retreat back to the sea through Albania, Flora was separated from her unit and for her own safety & chance of being fed, she enrolled as a soldier with a Serbian regiment, where she was quickly promoted to Corporal. However, in 1916, Flora was seriously wounded by a grenade, where she subsequently the Order of the Karadorde Star. Due to her injuries, Flora spent the rest of the war running a hospital.



Sunday 8 March 2015

Happy International Women's Day!

As its international women's day, I thought it would be fitting to tell the stories of some of the women hailed heroines during the first world war. Many of them went on to lead full interesting lives after the war, with some even continuing their work during the second world war. However, I am only going to tell their stories during the first world war. If you would like to find out what happens to them next, their is plenty of information on the internet as well as in books about women's work.

The first two women I am going to tell you about spent most of the war together so I thought that it would be fitting to combine their stories. Elizabeth Knocker was born in Exeter, England on the 29th June 1884. Mairi Chisholm was born in Nairn, Scotland on the 26th February 1896 and moved down to Dorset as a child. They met when they were eighteen years old and became good friends. 
At the outbreak of war, Elizabeth wrote to Mairi about what they should do during the war and they both decided to join the Women's Emergency Corps. This was on organisation set up by Evelina Haverfield, Decima Moore & the Women's Social & Political Union. Mairi was chosen by Hector Munro to join the Flying Ambulance Corps, where she convinced Hector to also choose Elizabeth due to her training as a nurse, great mechanical and chauffeur skills and because she spoke fluent in both French & German. 
The duo arrived in France on the 25th September 1914 and were quickly relocated in October to the town of Furnes near Dunkirk. Their role was to pick up soldiers from mid-way from the front & deliver them to a field hospital at the rear. They soon realised that despite their efforts, many of the soldiers were dying of their injuries before they made it to the hospital. They therefore decided to leave the organisation and set up on their own, setting up a dressing station just 100 yards from the trenches situated north of Ypres. It was decided that Elizabeth would treat patients, whilst Mairi drove the patients to the base hospital, all whilst under fire. They were even known to have carried the injured on their backs in order to get them to safety as quickly as possible.
Whilst doing this work, they also decided to take photographs of them at work, as well as the suffering going on around them. These photographs were to become highly popular in later years and are just some of the many chosen to be shown by historians today. 
In January 1915 both Elizabeth & Mairi where awarded the Order of Leopold II, knights cross with palm by King Albert I of Belgium. They were also awarded the British Military Medal and made Officers, most venerable order of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem after rescuing a German pilot from no mans land. Mairi also received the Order of Queen Elizabeth of Belgium & the 1914 Star. The war came to an abrupt end for the pair in March 1918 after being gassed during a German offensive and were subsequently sent home.

On the 6th October 1889, Dorothie Feilding was born in Newnham Paddox to aristocratic parents. Out the outbreak of war she shunned her privileged upbringing and drove ambulance at the front. She received the Croix De Guerre and on the 1st September 1916, became the first woman to be awarded the Military Medal for bravery. Along with these, Dorothie also received the Order of Leopold II, knights cross with palm by King Albert I of Belgium. 
Dorothie returned home to be married in June 1917 and spent the rest of the war driving the wounded around London.

On the 24th August 1863, Mary Amelia St Clair was born in Cheshire, England. Mary was a well-known writer & Suffragist but at the outbreak of war, Mary chose to be known under the name May Sinclair and volunteered to drive ambulances on the western front. However, after just a few short weeks, May was sent home for the duration and instead spent much of her time putting her experiences down on paper in the form of prose & poetry.

In August 1917, Mary O'Connell Bianconi (Known as Molly on the front line) joined the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry and worked as a driver in the St Omer Ambulance Convoy. In July 1918, after a heavy air raid, Molly & six others worked tirelessly to help the wounded whilst under fire, helping those buried in caves, dugouts and hospitals that had been hit. Due to her huge efforts, she received the Military Medal for bravery.

In 1914, a qualified surgeon named Elsie Inglis tried to volunteer with the Royal Army Medical Corps where she was told to 'go home & sit still'. Elsie therefore decided to set up her own organisation and so the Scottish Women's Hospitals were born, treating troops in Serbia & Russia. Elsie was the first women to receive the Order of the White Eagle, given to her by Serbia. Elsie & her team were evacuated in 1917 & unfortunately died just one day after returning to Britain from Cancer.

Chicago 1886, Mary Borden was born. At the outbreak of war, Mary was living in Britain. She decided to help the war effort by using her own money to equip & staff a field hospital. From 1915 she served as a nurse for the duration of the war. In her spare time she also wrote poetry such us 'The song in the mud'.

Join me on Tuesday with more stories about the brave women of world war one. 

Life AT War - Day by Day

8th March 1915

United States of America's first navy minelayer Baltimore has been commissioned.

Wednesday 4 March 2015

The First Great Escape - Part 3

… At the same time, the German officer on guard was looking in that direction and must have seen the white flag. However he turned and walked the other way as if nothing had happened. To this day we don’t know why the guard did this. Maybe he genuinely didn't seen the flag or more likely, he was one the guards who had been bribed and was helping the prisoners. If this was the case he would want to help the prisoners for as long as possible to ensure he still got a supply of food for himself and his family.

They couldn't tunnel the further distant to reach the point of exist, it was harvest time and the escape needed to take place as soon as possible. The stakes where high. They could be on their way back home within a month, possibly with a hero’s welcome and maybe even going back to the front line to help fight again. However it was more likely that they would be captured and could either be sent back to the camp and punished or could even be shot.  The only possible exit route they could take would be under the cover of darkness, running through a few rows of beans.

On the 23rd July 1918 at 10pm the escape began. Lieutenant Walter Butler was first on the list to escape and see if the coast was clear for the rest. In the tunnel he went along with a bread knife to bread ground. It took a hour but eventually, Walter saw the light, climbed out of the tunnel and ran. By 11.30 the first eleven prisoners had escaped through the tunnel and were swimming across the river Visa. It had previously been decided that those who had put the post work into the escape such as the trio that had planned it, would be higher on the list and therefore had a greater chance of escaping. 

By 4.30am 29 officers of the 83 total on the escape list had crawled out of the tunnel. Just as the thirtieth prisoner was nearing the exist, the tunnel caved in. Behind him were three more prisoners which he needed to tell to move back so that they could exist. However with out the noise and dust doing so was difficult and they began to suffocate. Eventually it was understood what needed to happen and the last two to enter the tunnel slowly made their way back to the entrance. However by 6am, there were still two prisoners stuck in the tunnel. They would have to stay there whilst the others went back to the barracks ready for morning inspection. 

After the inspection, the prisoners returned to the entrance of the tunnel and helped to get the two trapped prisoners out. They had no option but to return to the barracks, unable to escape. They carried on as usual in the hope to not raise suspicion so that those that had escaped would have a chance to succeed.

In fact the camp guards were so oblivious to what had happened that it wasn't until later that day, when some angry farmers turned up at the camp gates because their crops had been trampled on, that the alarm was raised. The exist point was found straight away and the prisoners were told to dig up the tunnel.  A large man hunt was launched and a reward given to any prisoner found and brought back. School children were given the day off to help look for them. 

However, the escapees had been on the run since before 4.30am when the tunnel had collapsed and should have had plenty of time to vacate the nearby area so long as they went in the right direction. They had split up into groups of two or three as twenty-nine men walking the streets would have been obvious.  Within days, nineteen of the escapees had been captured, brought back to camp to face trial and be placed in solitary confinement.

Yet there were still ten escapees where still on the run. Probably one of the most ingenious stories of the escape was the story used by the original trio - Blain, Kennard & Gray. One of them spoke excellent German, one spoke moderate German and one didn't speak any German. They decided their best option was to stick together and to deter the locals from who they really were, they came up with a story…

… The escapee that spoke no German was ’mentally insane’ and the other two had been tasked with taking him to a mental hospital. This was at a time when mental health causes where unknown and many people feared that you could catch insanity. This meant that once the story had been explained, people tried to stay out of the way and they were able to pass through towns and villages without further questions. They created a small act whereby the ’lunatic’ would have a fit and be screaming, whilst the other two would pin him down and give him a tablet, which would then make the ’lunatic’ calm down so they could carry on their journey. 

Three weeks after the escape had taken place the last of the prisoners not captured reached Britain to a well deserved heroes welcome. They had beaten the odds and managed to outwit the Germans. This was The First Great Escape. 

Sunday 1 March 2015

The First Great Escape - Part 2

The prisoner’s estimated that they would need to tunnel an extra forty metres to the cover of a Rye field, to better the chances of escaping unseen.

Many of the prisoners decided to give up. However, other officers had heard about the plan and decided to help and the new total of prisoners involved was 28. The original trio came to the decision that they had just six months to reach the field before it was harvested. Their thoughts also turned to the things they would need such as collecting supplies and false papers so that once the tunnel was completed, they would have everything they needed to stand a chance of making it to Holland.

It was the role of the new helpers to get contraband such as local money, clothes, food and other supplies. This was were the Red Cross parcels came in. With much of Germany cut off, food was scares for prisoners as well as guards and their families.  The Red Cross realised this and sent parcels that contained food and other basic supplies. Families also had the opportunity of sending things as well. It would have been easy to hide things that could aid an escape. For example, A tiny compass could be hidden in the heel of a pair of boots, Maps and train timetables could be hidden in the base of a shaving brush.

The prisoners knew they would need clothes to help blend in with the locals, as their prisoner uniform would make them stand out immediately. One of the main items of clothing needed was a hat and although this seems strange today, at the time every man would wear a hat, so to be seen without one would have been suspicious. As previously stated, guards and their families had little food and some were able to be bribed with what the prisoners received in their parcels. After all it was believed that towards the end of the first world war, the prisoners were probably being fed better than the German people. This would have most probably been how they got the clothes and hats.

A typist at the camp pretended to be in love with one of the prisoners and would be seen kissing each other in a quiet location, whilst all the time she was giving them information about camp inspections so that they knew when they needed to be away from the tunnel.
The tunnel itself was proving difficult. The enamel bowl idea that they had previously used was no longer going to work. They needed to be working at a faster pace than previously to stand a chance of completing the tunnel on time. So instead they took the sack down with them, filled it up and then had to push it all the way back through the tunnel.

Their time was up. On the 30th June 1918, an officer took a rod with a white flag through the tunnel and pushed it up through the roof of the tunnel to try to establish where they were. They discovered that they were short by a few metres. But that wasn't all…


Come back on Wednesday for the third part... 

Saturday 28 February 2015

The First Great Escape - Part 1


If I was to say The Great Escape, people would instantly remember the 1963 film set during the second world war at a German prisoner of war camp. The movie was based on a real account of an escape that took place during the second world war.
However, what a lot of people don’t know is that this wasn’t the first great escape to have taken place. It was one of the biggest escape stories of the second world war however one similar had previously taken place with a previous generation. 
The story begins in 1916 with a man called David Gray. David was a pilot at the start of the war. At this time, flying was a new invention with only a handful of men choosing to learn to fly and little safety precautions undertaken. Pilots was considered to be eccentric, mad men. For people on the home front, flying seemed dangerous and scary.

On 17th September 1916, David Gray was flying in his bi-plane when he was attacked by a German plane. He managed to keep control and land the plane but was subsequently captured by German soldiers and sent to a prisoner of war camp. By September the following year, David had tried to escape various camps five times, all attempts being unsuccessful. After his fifth attempt, he was sent to Holzminden.

Holzminden prisoner of war camp was located in Lower Saxony, Germany and was built in September 1917 for British and British Empire officers. The camp was under the authority of General Karl Von Hanisch would believed a harsh, brutal regime was what was needed. The camp Kommandant was Hauptmann Karl Niemeyer who had previously lived in America and so had a little understanding of the English language.
The camp boasted that it was escape proof. The whole area of the camp was heavily guarded and contained two fences and a ‘no mans land’ in-between. After this there was a high brick wall with barbed wire on top. The camp living quarters consisted of two four storey barrack blocks, with basements that contained cells that prisoners could be held in solitary confinement as punishment. In front of the blocks there were several wooden huts that contained facilities such as the cook house, woodshed, bathhouse and parcel room.
The camp could hold between 500-600 prisoners at any one time, with many of the prisoners being sent there due to previous attempts of escape at other camps. Between 100-160 lower ranked prisoners were also housed at the camp and acted as servants to the officers.  

After only a couple of days at Holzminden, David was longing to be back at the front and new he had to escape. Unlike previously, he knew he wouldn't be able to do it alone. Instead David chose Captain Caspar Kennard to help escape. Caspar had just finished six weeks in solitary confinement after a failed attempt of escaping. Together they chose a third member to help plan the escape, Second Lieutenant Cecil Blain, who had tired numerous times beforehand to escape. 

After discussing ideas, the trio camp to the decision that the only possible way to escape was to tunnel underground. To escape undetected they would need to tunnel 10 metres to a point just outside the perimeter wall. However this was just the first section of the escape - they would then need to run 240 kilometres to reach neutral Holland, before they could then be shipped back to Britain. Although this doesn’t sound to difficult, you have to remember that they didn’t possess any tools to dig and so had to rely on handmade items or spoons which would take a long time to tunnel. The trio knew they would need more help and so spoke to some more prisoners who agreed to help. This brought the number of people included in the planned escape up to twenty. 

The prisoners began tunnelling in the cellar of barrack b. This was difficult in itself as there needed to be men to keep watch and they had to make sure the tunnel went un-detected. They had cut the staircase so that work could happen behind it unseen with wood covering the hole made. The tunnel itself was just 16” in height and ventilation low. The prisoners later described it feeling as if you were being buried alive. The prisoners couldn't stand being in the tunnel for more than one hour and a half. They needed somewhere to hide the soil as it was being dug out so they came up with the idea to store inside mattress covers that were in one corner of the basement. Due to the lack of space, the prisoner digging at the time would take an enamel bowl in with him and fill it up. When the bowl was full, he would tug on a piece of string that was tied to the bowl and the prisoners at the other end would slowly pull the bowl out and dispose of the contents. 

The work was physically and mentally exhausting and it was considered a good days work if one foot of soil was taken out a day. Building the tunnel was a long process but the prisoners were kept going by the thought of outsmarting the Germans and escaping. However the further they got the less air and ventilation there was and the less time could be spent in the tunnel. The prisoners complained of severe headaches and feeling sick. This led them to making a home-made ventilation system built out of any materials they could find that a prisoner could pump air into the tunnel while work was being carried out. They also used bed slates to help hold up the weight of the soil above. 

By Christmas that year, they had tunnels the ten metres they needed to get to the point of exit. However, whether the Germans had received information of a planned attack or whether they just decided to step up security, they placed three sentry’s with guards and dogs around the perimeter of the camp. One of these sentry’s was exactly above the exit point. The prisoners had a huge decision to make. They could either give up and spend the rest of the war in the camp or they could tunnel further...


Come back tomorrow for the second part...

Friday 27 February 2015

The Great War - Aviation - Airco DH-4

The Airco DH-4 was a single engine bomber designed in 1916. The pilot was positioned beneath the centre of the wing, with the gunner sitting behind him. It was easy to fly and could fly higher than German planes and therefore didn't need a fighter escort. As well as bombing raids, the Airco DH-4 could also be used for artillery spotting, photo reconnaissance and coastal patrols.

There was one main problem with the Airco DH-4 and that was that the fuel tank was placed between the pilot and the gunner. Not only did it make communication near impossible, if hit by enemy fire both men could be burnt to death. The Airco DH-4 soon became known as the flaming coffins. 

The Airco DH-4 had a maximum speed of 143 mph, a maximum height of 23,500 ft and could fly for up to six hours and forty five minutes. It could carry between two to four machine guns and up to 460 lbs of bombs.


The Great War - Aviation - Hadley Page

The Hadley Page was Britain's first bomber plane and was designed in 1916. During November 1916, the Hadley Page carried out the first large-scale bombing raids on enemy territory. 
By 1918, The originally Hadley Page was replaced by a four engine version that could carry a new giant 1,650 lbs bomb. This version was to be converted for passenger transport after the war.

The Hadley Page Bomber had a maximum speed of 85 mph, a maximum height of 7,000 ft and could fly for up to eight hours. It could also carry five machine guns and 1,792 lbs of bombs.


The Great War - Aviation - Airco DH-2

The Airco DH-2 was a two seater plane used by the Royal Flying Corps during the summer of 1915. By February 1916, it was replaced by the single seat version. It was easy to manouever but had a unreliable engine and a lack of speed. Even with this the case, it helped establish air supremacy over Germany at the Battle of the Somme. 

The Airco DH-2 had a maximum speed of 93 mph, a maximum height of 23,500 ft and could fly for two hours and forty five minutes. It could also carry between two to four machine guns and 460 lbs of bombs.



The Great War - Aviation - Sopwith Camel

The Sopwith Camel, like the Sopwith Pup was designed in 1916. The main difference being that the Sopwith Camel was the first British plane to be fitted with two fixed synchronised forward Vickers machine guns. It started front line duties in the summer of 1917 and was the perfect design for shooting the enemy below. The guns were fixed pointing down through the floor of the fuselage so it could fire at the enemy in the trenches below as well as continuing flying fast and level.

The Sopwith Camel was agile and had a good rate of climb and so the RNAS ordered large quantities. However, it was not popular amongst pilots as it was difficult to fly and could spin out of control when trying to manoeuvre fast.
It had a maximum speed of 115 mph, a maximum height of 19,000 ft and could fly for up to two and a half hours.


The Great War - Aviation - Sopwith Pup

Designed half way through the war in 1916, the Sopwith Pup was easy to handle and fast. The RNAS ordered large quantities and it soon became very popular. It performed well against the German favourite Albatros D3 and was in service until late 1917.
The Sopwith Pup had a maximum speed of 111 mph, a maximum height of 17,500 ft and could carry a machine gun when needed. It could also fly for up to three hours. 


The Great War - Aviation - FE-2

As with many of the planes during the first world war, the FE-2 had various improvements and versions made. The first design had a poor performing engine and was quickly replaced by the FE-2B. This plane, although containing a better engine, couldn't keep up with the enemy planes.

Before it was replaced, the FE-2B found fame by shooting down German flying ace Max Immelmann.

Replacement FE-2C was brought out many for night flying missions. This was because, although improvements were made it was still no match for enemy planes and couldn't handle dogfights. So by doing night missions it was thought that the plane would be able to fly undetected.

When the FE-2D was brought out, it soon became highly successful on missions between 1916-1917. However, by the summer of 1917, it was brought back for home defence duties, with the reason being better planes were available to be fighting on the front line. The FE-2D had a maximum speed of 91 mph, a maximum height of 11,000 ft and could carry up to two machine guns. With just a maximum of two and a half hours of flying at any one time, it was no match for modern designs.


The Great War - Aviation - Bristol F-2 / Bristol Scout

At the outbreak of the first world war, the Bristol Scout was one of the most used planes. By the beginning of 1915, a newer version was brought out in the form of the Bristol Scout-D. This version flew with anti-zeppelin rockets as well as four small bombs that were hung on the fuselage next to the pilot. The Scout-D could also carry a machine gun if it needed to. It had a maximum speed of 100mph and a maximum height of 16,000 ft which you would think would make it the perfect plane. However, the plane could only fly for a maximum of two hours, so it needed to talk of nearby to stand any chance of doing any damage.


The Great War - Aviation - Vickers FB-5

The Vickers FB-5 was the first British plane to be built with a mounted machine gun on the front. Because of this you would think it would be highly popular and used a lot on the front line. However, the plane was fighting in the sky's above the trenches for just a few short months before being replaced by the faster and better armed Fokker E. With a maximum speed of 70 mph and a maximum height of 9,000 ft, it was no match for the up and coming planes even though it could carry up to two mounted machine guns. 

Instead the Vickers FB-5 spend the duration of the war carrying out reconnaissance missions for which it was perfect for as it could fly for up to four and a half hours at a time. This meant that it could be sent on longer haul flights.


Thursday 19 February 2015

The Great War - Aviation - Avro 504

The Avro 504 was a two seat aircraft designed in 1913 and was used during the First World War for light bombing and reconnaissance missions. Unfortunately on 22nd August 1914, just shortly after the outbreak of war, an Avro 504 was shot down by enemy aircraft, so the pilot and plane became the first British casualty of the war in the air.

The original aircraft design wasn't a very successful combat plane and was therefore withdrawn from the front line at the end of 1914. In early 1915, a replacement was designed in the shape of the Avro 504-B. This was a single seater plane meaning it was able to carry more fuel than the previous version so it could take part in long range reconnaissance missions. By the summer of 1915 the Avro 504-B was removed from the front line, instead being used as a pilot trainer in Britain. It remained carrying out this role until 1924.

The Final version of this aircraft had a maximum speed of 82 MPH, a maximum height of 12,000 feet and could fly for a maximum of 4 hours and 30 minutes. It could carry a 12" machine gun and 80 pounds of bombs at any one time.

The outbreak of war meant that this plane was able to be redesigned faster than it would in peace time. It also meant that although it was later decided that it wasn't the best option as a fighter plane, it was an aircraft that trained many pilots how to fly and helped to win the war.