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!