Animals & The First World War

Animal's have been used during war for hundreds of years. Even at the outbreak of the First World War, the majority of the army was cavalry based. On the Western front horses were being used and in desert areas camels were being used, all for one reason, to help the fight during wartime. The First World War saw a great many changes in tactics and one that would change the course of the war was a new weapon - the machine gun. The machine guns were just to big, bulky and heavy to assist on cavalry charges, so the majority of the cavalry was disbanded and soldier's regrouped with new tactics and weapons. 

Having said this, the use of animals didn't lesson. Large, strong animals, such as horses, found themselves being used to carry supplies such as food, water, ammunition and medical supplies to the soldiers on the front line. Those horses at the front line, found themselves carrying the injured and were also used to transport goods alongside the soldiers fighting as they advanced or retreated. In fact horses where seen as a huge necessity during wartime and even had gas masks made for them. Of course, if any of you have seen the film War Horse, you will know how the army came about so many horses and how much of a daily struggle life was for the horses used in wartime. 

Dogs were also used during the first world war as messengers, scouts and guards. They also helped to find the wounded soldiers and provided companionship in times of distress. Many soldier's found themselves looking on the dogs as their trench mascot and took great care of the dogs when they weren't working. Cats could also be found in the trenches and also became mascots. This was because of the job they were there to do - catch the rats. Unfortunately, rats were extremely common in the trenches and they were an animal the soldiers would rather not sea. Not only did they eat the suppliers, but they carried germs and diseases as well. They were also reported to be the size of rabbits and sometimes bigger which would be enough to give anyone nightmares. 

It wasn't just bigger animals that were used during wartime. Pigeons are one of the most famous animals to be used and their role was to carry messages. Sometimes they would even send messages to the enemy in the hope of confusing them. Another type of bird used was canaries which were used to detect poisonous gas. By today's standards we would deem it too cruel, but during the first world war it was a necessity. If gas was in the air, the canaries would die before the soldiers, hopefully giving them enough time to put their gas masks on. Of course, we now know that in many cases the gas had reached the lungs before anyone had a change to put the mask on, yet on the front line, that was the only way of knowing gas was in the air. 

It goes without saying that many animals were injured or killed during the war, with shooting and shelling a constant danger. Extreme weather conditions and mud and barbed wire were also dangerous, especially to an animal who probably wouldn't have understood what was going on. An animal could slip off the duck boards and fall in the mud with no hope of being rescues, just the same as a soldier could. With the noise of war and the explosions, I would imagine that the animals would be absolutely terrified, after all, they never asked to be a part of the war. 

This photograph belongs to animalsinwar.org.uk
and is used solely to show how moving the memorial, of which I am yet to visit, really is.

A staggering 484143 animals are estimated to have died whilst on duty during the war. When victory was finally declared in 1918, a lot of the animals that had somehow survived the war were just too ill or tired to carry on and had to be put down. Those that lived were sold off to local people in France and Belgium because they were too expensive to feed and transport home. I am sorry to say that those who could not be sold were shot on the spot, where the meat was often sold to local butchers for a price. Needless to say, animals were never to be used in such a huge way during wartime again. But it wasn't until 2004, 86 years after the end of the first world war, that the Animals In War memorial was unveiled and animals finally got the recognition they deserved. 
The epitaph says it all - "This monument is dedicated to all the animals that served and died alongside British and Allied forces in wars and campaigns throughout time. They had no choice."

Cricket - A Sport Of Peace

For many years now, cricket has been associated with Britain and even today, in local towns and villages, the cricket pitches are seen as sacred ground. At the outbreak of the First World War, when TV sets didn't exist, cricket was on everyone's calendar. Whether it was the men playing, the women who made the sandwiches, cakes and tea or the children watching and hoping to be able to play when they were older. Villages and towns would compete against each other to win cups and titles and back then would have been seen as our today's world cup but in cricket.

When the First World War broke, it was decided that the game would be abandoned for the duration. As we now know, this was to be a gruelling four years, but don't forget at the time, they thought it would be all over by Christmas. Many of the players, grounds men and officials volunteered to fight so they wouldn't have had the men there to play anyway. In the same way that the Pal's battalions were formed, you could find the whole of a cricket team and their grounds men fighting alongside each other. Even when it came to training, men were taught to throw a grenade in the same way that you would throw a cricket ball. It was just assumed that everyone played cricket.

As always with war, the number of those men who were seriously injured or even killed was high. When the game of cricket returned to play in 1919, good players became few and far between. Some had been killed, others had lost limbs or had be left blind, deaf or dumb. Some just couldn't face playing the game, being happy, when others had suffered so badly.

As a mark of respect, pavilions around the country created a memorial which included a roll of honour of those who had lost their life. Many of these memorials are still there today if you look closely. A staggering 274 first class cricketers and 4 test cricketers were killed as a result of the First World War. This number doesn't include those players who just played cricket for a bit of fun, neither does that include players of any other sport.

These men are just some of the many who seem to have been forgotten. When you watch a cricket match, most of the time they aren't mentioned. If you go to a cricket pitch, why not take a moment to remember those who fought for our freedom and say your thanks to them, to ensure that they are never, ever forgotten.

 

Refugee's Of The First World War

The term refugee has been one of the most talked about subject of recent months as Europe struggles with the huge influx trying to get into Europe over the last couple years. However this is not the first time that Europe has had this struggle, especially in Britain.

At the outbreak of the first world war, millions of civilians from all over what we now know as Europe found themselves either fleeing or being forced to leave their homeland by force as a consequence of the hostilities. When Russia invaded East Prussia in 1914, over one million Germans had to flee. This had a knock on effect as when Germany then occupied the like of Belgium, Northern France, Poland and Lithuania, people that called these countries there home also felt the need to flee, after hearing reports and witnessing for themselves the brutality of German soldiers.  When another country invades your homeland, the invaders expect you to automatically welcome them and fit into their beliefs and ideas. However throughout history, we have come to realise that this is never going to happy. At the start of the war, those countries Germany had invaded were very much divided but all fighting for survival. Neighbours and friends all to often became enemies. You had those who either wanted to be a part of the German ideals or were just too afraid to stand up and speak against them. You also had those that spoke against the German regime and the consequences could be fatal. Shortly after the Germans had entered Belgium without permission, stories filtering back to Britain told of German troops shooting innocent civilians including a tiny baby. This understandably caused widespread fear and panic enough for people to want to leave what had been their homes for generations. 
The refugee's travelled to France, The Netherlands and England in a bid to escape the enemy where charities were set up to give aid to them and find them places to live and work. Even back then, the refugee's were closely monitored to make sure they were behaving and that none were the enemy in disguise. Local people in Britain offered a room to the refugee's and helped find them employment. However as the war progressed, some refugee's demanded better care and treatment which caused bad feeling between them and the British. The British thought the refugee's were being ungrateful and that they had no intention of going back home after the war had ended. After all, this was only a temporary situation for the duration, it wasn't meant to last forever. 

By the time the war ended, most of the refugee's had decided to either go back home or emigrate to places like America. The was still some that did not want to return to Belgium, so both the Belgium and British governments pleaded with the refugee's to return home and even offered free passage home to them. By 1920 a staggering 90% had returned home. However, it was a very different home they had gone back to and one that would take a lot of time and money to get it back into a liveable country. 

The Chaplains Of The First World War

When war broke out in 1914, it wasn't just the everyday man that volunteered to fight. In fact about 5,000 men left the safety and comfort of their parishes in the local towns and villages in order to help the war effort. When the Chaplains arrived in France they were told the role would be to conduct short services in the French towns for allied servicemen. They were also expected to ensure each man had a decent burial to keep up morale. However, nothing would prepare them for the vast amount of burials they would be doing. 

Initially they weren't allowed anywhere near the front line, however a number of Chaplains felt it was their duty to be at the front with the men to help and support them. At the same time General Haig was also devising a plan that would see the Chaplains be stationed on the front line. 

The Chaplains on the front line were there for more than just religious services and burials. They helped keep calm the injured and the dying, with many of them spending the last few moments with a dying solider so that they weren't on their own. They were also usually one of the last people to spend time with a soldier about to be shot for desertion. These Chaplains understood that these soldiers were being hugely affected by the war and many later recalled how you could see the madness in a soldier.

Although in general, Chaplain's disagreed with the war, they understood that the bloodshed was going to continue until their was a winner and so many of them got stuck in, helping the soldiers to dig the trenches and tunnels. They also helped to get morale up by leading singing and sharing jokes to pass the time. 

Troops held the Chaplains in high regard, after all they had the option to return to safety and leave the front line behind but they chose not to. It was an dangerous work for the Chaplains as it was for the soldiers on the front. They were still seen as targets by the enemy and could still be shot or shelled as well as catch one of the many diseases that was spreading around the trenches. 

Chaplains saw the brutality of war from all sides. For them, any loss of life was a sin in their eyes no matter whether friend or foe. This was the case with Woodbine Willy. Born Geoffrey Anketell Studdert Kennedy, he was given his name by the soldiers because he was always known for handing out cigarettes. He was hugely respected amongst the soldiers and even set up a trench vicarage to be near the men. However he was also controversial because he would help a soldier no matter what their nationality and some regarded this as helping the enemy. This was not the case, he simply thought it was his duty to help mankind, for which he later received the Military Cross for recovering wounded men from No Mans Land, both allied and enemy. 

By the end of the war, 168 Chaplains had lost their lives. For those that survived, they had seen suffering in a completely new way and many set about trying to help returning soldiers get back on track with their lives. So whilst I am not a hugely religious person, I do have an unlimited amount of respect for those brave man, of all ages I might add, that faced danger in order to make our soldiers feel loved and safe. 

Life In A City During The First World War

Pre-war city life was almost split in half between the haves and the have-nots. Many of the wealthy had a home not only in the city but in the country as well whilst the poorer people struggled to keep a roof over their heads with the majority of families sharing just a couple of rooms in slum areas. 

The outbreak of war changed city-life and it would never be the same again. As men volunteered and were later conscripted to fight, you could see more and more women filling the jobs men used to do such as bus/tram conductors. This was more noticeable in city areas as there were more jobs to fill. With an ever-increasing amount of jobs available, some of those living in the city slums found themselves with more opportunities to work, including working in factories to help the war effort, where the paid was high. This meant that families could afford to buy the basic food items which in turn started to improve their health. 

One thing that affected those living in the city, no matter how much wealth a person had was the danger of an attack from the enemy. Cities were being heavily bombed during Zeppelin raids and many coastal places also found themselves being shelled by the German navy. This brought out a new determination in cities across Britain. They wanted to prove that they could stand strong in the fight against evil and to do this was to all muck in together, despite the difference in class. I feel this was also the start of the British stiff upper lip. 

Even though people now had more money to spend, there was very little in the shops to supply demand. Food was becoming more difficult to find and it wasn't until rationing was brought in early in 1918 that this started to improve. Unlike rural areas, people just didn't have the resources to be able to swap food items and many didn't have the space to grow their own. 

The thing that stands out to me the most during my researching the result in the change of people's lives. For the soldier's, after being outside in trenches, some for a few years, the tight proximity of city life was a strain for them and many returning soldiers moved into more rural areas for space. Not only that, but those suffering for shell shock and PTSD (although this condition was really known at this point), found the loud noises of the city to difficult to live with and so they sought quieter areas. 

For the women, they had achieved great things during the war and had proved that they could fill the roles that men normally undertook. This created a vicious circle that went on for quite a few years after the war had ended. The women felt it unfair and were resentful of the fact that they were given the sack so that they returning soldiers could take up where they left off. After having a taste of freedom for so long, they were no longer willing to go back to being just housewives and mothers and "delicate creatures". The war really gave a push towards gaining the vote for women and for women's rights in general.

For the men, they were resentful that they had fought a long and hard battle to win the war and had come back to find women caring out the jobs they had done before. The cost of the war had been high and there was a severe decline in the number of jobs available. Newspapers of the time reported that unemployed men could be seen grouped together in the street, many of them drinking, which of course always spelt trouble. 

Pre-war city life had been a divide of wealth, however, post-war was more of a divide between man and women and this would be the case for years to come. 

Love Letters During The First World War

With valentine's day just gone I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on what love was like during the first world war. Although I have been lucky enough so far to not have gone through a wartime, I have heard people over the years say that in war your feelings are stronger. People learn to live for the moment, for who knows what is around the corner. 

During the first world war, letters played an huge and important part in communication. Phone lines were expected to be used to help the war effort only and not for personal conversations. With many of Britain's men fighting in the trenches of a foreign land, it was the letters written that kept people together. 

Women would often write to there sweethearts, telling them all the news from home, in return, soldiers would thank them for the gifts they had received and would ask for news of certain family members or friends. For the women, it felt like their responsibility to inform their loved ones that they were thought of at home and not forgotten. 

When many of us think of love letters today, we think of the of the top type usually shown in movies. However, the love letters of the first world war were more than that. They contained dreams and hopes for the future, of something to look forward to when the war was over. They created a bridge between peace and war, they made the horrors of war soldiers were witnessing more just. 

Yet these letters were not only read between two sweethearts. They would also be read by somebody else who would censor each and every letter to ensure no news or plans would reach the enemy.  often meant that letters were even more shortened than they originally were and some sentences were often broken and hard to understand. 

Over the last couple of years, many of the love letters written during the first world war have been made public, either in books, tv programmes and online. By reading these letters you can get a real sense of what life was like to be in love during wartime. From the happy times to the sad times, these letters can make you feel like you are living alongside them. 

If there is one thing you do this month, I would recommend researching some wartime love letters (they aren't hard to find) and read them. They really put things into perspective and show us that all the money spent and tackiness of valentine's day is not needed. All that matters in that the one you love is safe and well.

Life In Rural Britain During World War 1

The outbreak of World War 1 changed the lives of British people throughout the country. In rural Britain, small tight communities could often be found. The indirectly led to the surge in young men volunteering to fight - after all, they didn't want to be seen as a Shirker.With men volunteering in their flocks, farms and local businesses were left without a huge amount of their workforce. This was to become more serious as it was left to farmers to feed the nation as U-boats sunk more and more ships carrying much needed supplies to Britain. 

Not only did farms loose they menfolk, they also lost their horse power with most horses become requisitioned by the War Office. Without this huge strength, it would take on average a minimum of 15 people to harvest a field full of crop. By 1915, the Women's Land Army was set up with women joining from all around the country to do something new and different to help the war effort. Although thousands volunteered for the Land Army, farmers were reluctant to allow women to farm their land as 'it wasn't there place' and they 'wouldn't be strong enough' to cope with the physical work. 

Farms now had the workers to cope with demand which is great as by 1917, the Cultivation Of Lands Order meant that the government could demand that farmers plough new land to increase food production. At vast amount of this land had never been ploughed before and so the work was strenuous and the hours long. As much as farmers hated to admit it, without the help of the Women's Land Army, they would have been hugely behind with their quoter. 

It wasn't just farms that the war effected, but family homes as well. People that had gardens were encouraged to start a vegetable garden which helped vastly when rationing was introduced. By growing their own vegetables they were able to add to their allotted amount. Women were encouraged not to waste food and could face a hefty fine if they were found to be wasting food. By living in the country, anything that would have normally been wasted could be given to local farms to use as pigs swill. 

Many neighbours in rural areas pulled together to help each other. Whether it was swapping food and other items to being there for someone when they receive the devastating news war can bring. Reports can be found post-war where firm friends and local groups had been formed through their experiences of the war. 

Join me next time when I explore what life was like for those that live in the City.