Okay, so you may have realised that there hasn't been any updates on this blog for a while and the weapons & the first world war series suddenly came to an end. This was due to a suddenly very busy period in my life and I felt unable to spend the time needed to continue with the blog, so I took a break, just until I felt I could resume writing. I am now at the point that I feel I can start again, but of course, I am now very behind on my schedule. For those of you that don't know, I have all of my posts already scheduled in right up until Christmas so I have a lot of making up to do. Therefore I have decided to change the format of the current series slightly, whereby, on some posts there will be numerous weapons discussed, in order to try to catch up. There may also be the extra added post during the week so make sure you are following the blog to be notified when this happens.
Enough from me, on to today's post...
So today we are talking about machine guns and in particular two of them. The first is the Hotchkiss machine gun, which was invented by Benjamin Hotchkiss. It was gas operated as well as being naturally air cooled, which consisted of five circular rings inside the gun barrel, that design of which helped prevent overheating. It could fire 8mm Lebel ammunition, with a firing rate of 450 rounders per minute. The Hotchkiss machine gun had a maximum firing range of 3800m and weighed in at 100 pounds, meaning that it wasn't a popular thing to have to move far.
The Hotchkiss machine gun was first widely used by the French infantry in the later part of 1917, but was then also used by the American Expeditionary Force during the years of 1917 & 1918, when they arrived on the Western Front.
Moving on to the second machine gun and that is the Lewis gun. It was developed in America just before the outbreak of the first world war and was designed to be much lighter than any other guns in production at that time, weighing in at just 12KG. When war broke out in 1914, the Lewis gun was mainly used fitted onto armoured cars which could then be fired at German patrols. By 1915, it had been modified to be used both on land and in the air and was also bought in huge numbers by the British Army as their main infantry gun. The Mark IV tanks also carried the Lewis gun as their main weapon.
The Lewis gun was gas operated but the same as the Hotchkiss gun and also had a natural cooling process in the form of the aluminium barrel-shroud drawing in air and thus aiding the cooling process. It could fire at a rate of 500-600 rounds a minute and due to it being so lightweight, could be transported by just one soldier, freeing up men for other duties.
As you can see there were similarities between both guns. Make sure you check back next week to see what we are talking about next in our Weapons & The First World War series.
Sunday 7 May 2017
Sunday 19 March 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Mauser Gewehr
Hello everyone and welcome back to our weapons and the first world war series where today we just wanted to touch on the Mauser Gewehr rifle. This rifle was and still is known as one of Germany's most notable bolt action rifle and one that was popular for a long time. It was designed by Peter Paul Mauser in response to the French Lebel M1888 and was used widely in German forces throughout the first world war.
Friday 17 March 2017
Clement Attlee & The First World War
Born on the 3rd January 1883 in Surrey was a man named Clement Attlee. As a young man, he worked as manager of Haileyburry House in Stepney, which was a charity for working class boys in the area. It was here that he saw widespread poverty and deprivation and was said to be shocked to the core at what he witnessed. Whilst in this role, he soon realised that the government needed to step up and take more responsibility in order to help these people and so in 1908, Clement joined the Independant Labour Party. He was very active in local politics and was soon touring the country explaining all the information with regards to the National Insurance Act. After a while touring the country, Clement became a lecturer at the London School Of Economics, a role in which he stayed in right up until the outbreak of the first world war.
When war broke out, Clement applied for an army commission and found himself part of the South Lancashire Regiment. It was from here that a huge rift started between himself and his brother Tom, who spent the majority of the war in prison, due to his beliefs as a conscientious objector.
Clement fought along with his comrades during the Gallipoli campaign and subsequently, like many others. caught dysentery. He was sent by hospital ship to Malta, while during this time, many of his comrades were lost during the Battle of Sari Bair.
On his return, Clement was told the news that his regiment had been chosen to hold the final lines during the evacuation of Suvla and so was one of the very last men to be evacuated. Whilst fighting during the Battle of Hanna, Clement was badly wounded after receiving shrapnel in his leg and so was sent back to Britain to recover. This didn't stop him, for he spent most of 1917 training soldiers and was the temporary commanding officer of the Tank Corps at Bovington. Later on in the year, Clement was promoted to the rank of Major and in June 1918, found himself being sent to serve on the Western Front, where he said until the war ended.
Post war, Clement returned to the London School of Economics as a lecturer but the story doesn't end there. Clement dies on the 8th October 1967 but he achieves a lot during the time in between and was soon to be a household name. This is something we will pick up again when we explore the second world war.
When war broke out, Clement applied for an army commission and found himself part of the South Lancashire Regiment. It was from here that a huge rift started between himself and his brother Tom, who spent the majority of the war in prison, due to his beliefs as a conscientious objector.
Clement fought along with his comrades during the Gallipoli campaign and subsequently, like many others. caught dysentery. He was sent by hospital ship to Malta, while during this time, many of his comrades were lost during the Battle of Sari Bair.
On his return, Clement was told the news that his regiment had been chosen to hold the final lines during the evacuation of Suvla and so was one of the very last men to be evacuated. Whilst fighting during the Battle of Hanna, Clement was badly wounded after receiving shrapnel in his leg and so was sent back to Britain to recover. This didn't stop him, for he spent most of 1917 training soldiers and was the temporary commanding officer of the Tank Corps at Bovington. Later on in the year, Clement was promoted to the rank of Major and in June 1918, found himself being sent to serve on the Western Front, where he said until the war ended.
Post war, Clement returned to the London School of Economics as a lecturer but the story doesn't end there. Clement dies on the 8th October 1967 but he achieves a lot during the time in between and was soon to be a household name. This is something we will pick up again when we explore the second world war.
Sunday 12 March 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Smokeless Gun Powder
Hello everyone and welcome back to our weapons and the first world war series. For years, the military had been hampered with the problems gun powder produced. In particularly, the fact that the was more often than not no visibility due to a thick cloud of smoke on the battlefield.
In 1886, Paul Vielle invented a substance known as Poudre B. When fired, this substance formed little, if any smoke. It was also deemed to be more powerful than gun powder and so whilst it was the French that first used it, other countries soon followed suit.
Poudre B meant that visibility was slightly better on the first world war battlefields than that of previous battles when using standard gun powder. It also shaped the way our weapons our designed and made today and certainly helped us to go on to win the second world war.
In 1886, Paul Vielle invented a substance known as Poudre B. When fired, this substance formed little, if any smoke. It was also deemed to be more powerful than gun powder and so whilst it was the French that first used it, other countries soon followed suit.
Poudre B meant that visibility was slightly better on the first world war battlefields than that of previous battles when using standard gun powder. It also shaped the way our weapons our designed and made today and certainly helped us to go on to win the second world war.
Friday 10 March 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Big Bertha
Hello everyone and welcome back to our weapons & the first world war series where today we are talking all about Big Bertha. Big Bertha was a German mobile howitzer that was named after the inventor Alfred Krupp's wife.
Big Bertha got it's name because it weighed in at a staggering 45 tonnes. She could fire a 2,200lb shell over 9 miles and so played a huge part in the German fight. Due to her size however, Big Betha had to be transported in sections by Daimler-Bentz tractors and then pieced back together again once in position. This usually took a crew of 200 men over 6 hours to re-assemble.
When war broke out, two Big Betha's had been situated just outside the fortress of Liege in Belgium, where they played a huge part of securing the town and surrounding area. This was an area that was fought over many times, with Big Bertha being right at the centre.
Big Bertha got it's name because it weighed in at a staggering 45 tonnes. She could fire a 2,200lb shell over 9 miles and so played a huge part in the German fight. Due to her size however, Big Betha had to be transported in sections by Daimler-Bentz tractors and then pieced back together again once in position. This usually took a crew of 200 men over 6 hours to re-assemble.
When war broke out, two Big Betha's had been situated just outside the fortress of Liege in Belgium, where they played a huge part of securing the town and surrounding area. This was an area that was fought over many times, with Big Bertha being right at the centre.
Wednesday 8 March 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Military Motor Bus
Hello and welcome back to our weapons & the first world war series where today is all about the military motor bus. It started way back in 1908, when the British government put everyday busses through their paces in order to see if they could be used to transport soldiers in the event of war. The outcome was that they were deemed acceptable and it was decided if the event of war ever arose, they would be called upon.
When the first world war broke in 1914, Winston Churchill asked the London General Omnibus Company to provide busses to transport Britain's soldiers to France. Volunteers were also needed from their crews, with 75 members coming forward. These men found themselves part of the Royal Marines.
By September 1914, 75 crews, along with their Daimler busses had been shipped to France to help with the war effort. Although some were captured by the German's, the majority were still in use by the British at the end of the first world war.
When the first world war broke in 1914, Winston Churchill asked the London General Omnibus Company to provide busses to transport Britain's soldiers to France. Volunteers were also needed from their crews, with 75 members coming forward. These men found themselves part of the Royal Marines.
By September 1914, 75 crews, along with their Daimler busses had been shipped to France to help with the war effort. Although some were captured by the German's, the majority were still in use by the British at the end of the first world war.
Tuesday 7 March 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Gardner Machine Gun
Hello and welcome back to our Weapons & The First World War series, where today we are talking about the Gardner machine gun. Inspired by the Gatling gun design produced in 1861, the Gardner gun was first seen in public in 1879.
The gun itself consisted of two barrels that would simultaneously fire their round. The gun also had a feeder line where boxes of cartridges could be slid onto and then removed again once empty. This enabled constant firing of the gun, much like the Gatling gun.
During a public testing, the Gardner gun fired an impressive 10,000 rounds within 27 minutes. Just over a year later, the British Army subsequently put in an order for a large quantity of the guns, which were used in conflicts including the first world war.
The gun itself consisted of two barrels that would simultaneously fire their round. The gun also had a feeder line where boxes of cartridges could be slid onto and then removed again once empty. This enabled constant firing of the gun, much like the Gatling gun.
During a public testing, the Gardner gun fired an impressive 10,000 rounds within 27 minutes. Just over a year later, the British Army subsequently put in an order for a large quantity of the guns, which were used in conflicts including the first world war.
Friday 24 February 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Bayonet
Welcome back to our Weapons & The First World War series. Today's topics is probably one of the ones that I always used to think of when I thought of the first world war but in actual fact, they weren't used all that much as a fully fledged weapon and that was the Bayonet.
The Bayonet was designed so that it could be fitted onto the barrel of a gun in less than a minute. Although it had been used to great effect during previous conflicts, it was mainly used as a personal defensive weapon during the first world war. This was mainly because of the use of heavy artillery and machine guns. Despite this, every soldier in the British Army at infantry level was provided with one as part of their kit.
The Bayonet was designed so that it could be fitted onto the barrel of a gun in less than a minute. Although it had been used to great effect during previous conflicts, it was mainly used as a personal defensive weapon during the first world war. This was mainly because of the use of heavy artillery and machine guns. Despite this, every soldier in the British Army at infantry level was provided with one as part of their kit.
Sunday 19 February 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Heavy Artillery
Welcome back to our Weapons & The First World War series where today we are thinking about heavy artillery. It is a term that is used often when describing wartime battles. It refers to the large calibre mounted firearms, which are typically in the form of a field gun.
To be heavy artillery, they had to be movable as well as fire at long range. They were seen as a huge threat to not only infantrymen but tanks and other armoured vehicles as well. When you have the basic design of the field gun, you can then design the ammunition that can be placed inside. Heavy artillery was such a threat because you couldn't necessary see it before it fired at you.
To be heavy artillery, they had to be movable as well as fire at long range. They were seen as a huge threat to not only infantrymen but tanks and other armoured vehicles as well. When you have the basic design of the field gun, you can then design the ammunition that can be placed inside. Heavy artillery was such a threat because you couldn't necessary see it before it fired at you.
Friday 17 February 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Armoured Cars
Welcome back to our Weapons & The First World War with today's topic being all about the armoured car. Now I know it may not sound like a piece of weaponry to some people however it was designed to not only protect its passengers but also to carry a gun when needed to.
The armoured car mainly consisted of armour plating all around but it had an open top and so made it very easy for the enemy to shoot at the passengers. Although they were used on the Western Front, they found it difficult to manoeuvre on the un-level ground, which would then start the idea off of the tank. When tanks were introduced, the armoured car was used more by officers and for general travel.
The armoured car mainly consisted of armour plating all around but it had an open top and so made it very easy for the enemy to shoot at the passengers. Although they were used on the Western Front, they found it difficult to manoeuvre on the un-level ground, which would then start the idea off of the tank. When tanks were introduced, the armoured car was used more by officers and for general travel.
Monday 13 February 2017
The Last Fighting Tommy
For many years, I have been interested in Harry Patch. Being born and bred in Somerset, I often saw him on the front of the local papers and on local TV, as well as many interview clips talking about various things. What I saw, was a hero, a man who had fought through the first world war and had lived to tell the tale so to speak. What I didn't realise though, was the real Harry Patch, the man behind the story. It was only by coincidence that Harry became the last fighting Tommy, if it hadn't have been him, it would have been someone else.
I bought Harry's autobiography The Last Fighting Tommy written by Richard Van Emden back in the summer but it took me a little while to read it. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it had something to do with me thinking it would be all about military life and what happened. It might be a surprise to you, considering I write this blog, but I don't actually like reading about the military events or in depth about weaponry and battles. I much prefer reading about how it affected people's lives and how they coped.
It was a complete surprise when I finally started to read the book because it only touched on the first world war for a little bit, it certainly wasn't the whole book. Once I started reading it, I find I just simply couldn't put it down. One thing that I really didn't expect was how great a sense of humour Harry had. I suppose I had only really seen him talk about a period in his life which he really didn't want to relive and it was certainly a sombre subject. Instead, whilst reading this book, I found myself laughing aloud, probably getting a few funny looks along the way, as Harry's personality really shone throughout the book.
Being from Somerset, I loved reading about all the little villages in the area and how much both world wars changed Britain in various different ways. I really felt like I was part of the story and could see the transition of how it could change in one lifetime. What I didn't bank on was how some things had stayed the same all of this time. For instance, the train station he is to report to at the beginning of his military service was the same station I used to wait at to board the train to the seaside during my childhood. As he describes it, I could see it in my mind how much of it was still the same underneath all of the technology. His tales of village life had me in stitches and really hit home because it is only down the road from me and is certainly somewhere that I would like to visit and see for myself.
The book captured my attention so much that when it touched on how he coped with the loss of his friends both immediately and in the years that followed, I found myself crying alongside Harry. After reading about the jolly times they had had and the stories of his friends, I felt I had lost them too!
Above all, they main thing I took away from the book was that Harry was just an ordinary man. He started as a apprentice, before going off to war, if somewhat reluctantly. He saw and did things that nobody should be expected to and had to cope with the sudden devastation of war. After the war, like many he didn't really want to talk about his experiences - he simply wanted to get back to civilian life and continue on his way. As it turned out, after the rest of his comrades had passed before him and so him became the last surviving soldier of the first world war and so the world focused on him again.
I remember in 2014 visiting our local museum as they put on their new exhibit to mark the first world war centenary, with various artefacts as well as people's stories and experiences. There was one particular part which showed a lovely painted portrait of Harry Patch, the man, not the soldier. It had a speaker next to it in which it played a recorded message from Harry, talking about his experiences in the trenches. I remember thinking then that he sounded so upset and tired from talking about those experiences and I realised that, if you are asked the same questions over and over for the best part of 90 years, you wouldn't want to talk about it either.
I realised through reading this book, that many people just wanted to hear about the glory of war and what it was like. They didn't necessary want to get to know Harry as a person and hear about his life, because lets face it, the first world war was just a tiny part in a long life. I now feel like I can truly appreciate that and I feel like I really know the person beyond the uniform. I highly recommend taking the time to read The Last Fighting Tommy by Richard Van Emden for yourself, I promise you, you won't be disappointed and you will come out the other side a better person, with a completely different perspective on life.
I bought Harry's autobiography The Last Fighting Tommy written by Richard Van Emden back in the summer but it took me a little while to read it. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it had something to do with me thinking it would be all about military life and what happened. It might be a surprise to you, considering I write this blog, but I don't actually like reading about the military events or in depth about weaponry and battles. I much prefer reading about how it affected people's lives and how they coped.
It was a complete surprise when I finally started to read the book because it only touched on the first world war for a little bit, it certainly wasn't the whole book. Once I started reading it, I find I just simply couldn't put it down. One thing that I really didn't expect was how great a sense of humour Harry had. I suppose I had only really seen him talk about a period in his life which he really didn't want to relive and it was certainly a sombre subject. Instead, whilst reading this book, I found myself laughing aloud, probably getting a few funny looks along the way, as Harry's personality really shone throughout the book.
Being from Somerset, I loved reading about all the little villages in the area and how much both world wars changed Britain in various different ways. I really felt like I was part of the story and could see the transition of how it could change in one lifetime. What I didn't bank on was how some things had stayed the same all of this time. For instance, the train station he is to report to at the beginning of his military service was the same station I used to wait at to board the train to the seaside during my childhood. As he describes it, I could see it in my mind how much of it was still the same underneath all of the technology. His tales of village life had me in stitches and really hit home because it is only down the road from me and is certainly somewhere that I would like to visit and see for myself.
The book captured my attention so much that when it touched on how he coped with the loss of his friends both immediately and in the years that followed, I found myself crying alongside Harry. After reading about the jolly times they had had and the stories of his friends, I felt I had lost them too!
Above all, they main thing I took away from the book was that Harry was just an ordinary man. He started as a apprentice, before going off to war, if somewhat reluctantly. He saw and did things that nobody should be expected to and had to cope with the sudden devastation of war. After the war, like many he didn't really want to talk about his experiences - he simply wanted to get back to civilian life and continue on his way. As it turned out, after the rest of his comrades had passed before him and so him became the last surviving soldier of the first world war and so the world focused on him again.
I remember in 2014 visiting our local museum as they put on their new exhibit to mark the first world war centenary, with various artefacts as well as people's stories and experiences. There was one particular part which showed a lovely painted portrait of Harry Patch, the man, not the soldier. It had a speaker next to it in which it played a recorded message from Harry, talking about his experiences in the trenches. I remember thinking then that he sounded so upset and tired from talking about those experiences and I realised that, if you are asked the same questions over and over for the best part of 90 years, you wouldn't want to talk about it either.
I realised through reading this book, that many people just wanted to hear about the glory of war and what it was like. They didn't necessary want to get to know Harry as a person and hear about his life, because lets face it, the first world war was just a tiny part in a long life. I now feel like I can truly appreciate that and I feel like I really know the person beyond the uniform. I highly recommend taking the time to read The Last Fighting Tommy by Richard Van Emden for yourself, I promise you, you won't be disappointed and you will come out the other side a better person, with a completely different perspective on life.
Sunday 12 February 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Machine Guns
Welcome back to our Weapons & The First World War series where today we are thinking all about machine guns. Now the idea behind the machine gun was to allow a steady stream of constant fire so that you could continually use it against the enemy without having to stop to reload it after each shot was fired.
The main difference with a machine gun was the self powered coil that was built into the design so that you could concentrate on the firing and keeping clean of the gun rather than the mechanical side of constantly firing a weapon. Again there is different variations of the machine gun which we will look into as the series unfolds.
The main difference with a machine gun was the self powered coil that was built into the design so that you could concentrate on the firing and keeping clean of the gun rather than the mechanical side of constantly firing a weapon. Again there is different variations of the machine gun which we will look into as the series unfolds.
Saturday 11 February 2017
Shot For Desertion
The official meaning of desertion in military terms is extremely cold hearted - Abandonment of a duty or post without permission, with the intention of not returning.
In actual reality, many of those men were more likely suffering from severe shell shock and simply could not face being on the front line with the sounds of guns and shells exploded all around. They were men with unseen injuries that would, in today's terms, have meant that they would have been medically discharged and sent for treatment.
In total, its recorded that 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were short for cowardice or desertion. They were usually blindfolded and tied up in front of a firing squad of 12 men.
Post-war, the names of those men were not placed on the war graves alongside those that had fought and died serving their country. Even today, many of the names of those men are still missing and families continue to tirelessly fight to change that. It wasn't until 2006, that the men were giving a blanket pardon, yet it really shouldn't have taken so long.
Today, you can visit the Shot At Dawn memorial situated in Staffordshire, England. It was designed by Andy DeComyn and unveiled in 2000 and depicts a young British soldier blindfolded and tied to a stake like those 306 men were, ready to be shot by a firing squad. It is one of the only memorials of its kind and really makes you think about whether those men really deserved it.
In actual reality, many of those men were more likely suffering from severe shell shock and simply could not face being on the front line with the sounds of guns and shells exploded all around. They were men with unseen injuries that would, in today's terms, have meant that they would have been medically discharged and sent for treatment.
In total, its recorded that 306 British and Commonwealth soldiers were short for cowardice or desertion. They were usually blindfolded and tied up in front of a firing squad of 12 men.
Post-war, the names of those men were not placed on the war graves alongside those that had fought and died serving their country. Even today, many of the names of those men are still missing and families continue to tirelessly fight to change that. It wasn't until 2006, that the men were giving a blanket pardon, yet it really shouldn't have taken so long.
Today, you can visit the Shot At Dawn memorial situated in Staffordshire, England. It was designed by Andy DeComyn and unveiled in 2000 and depicts a young British soldier blindfolded and tied to a stake like those 306 men were, ready to be shot by a firing squad. It is one of the only memorials of its kind and really makes you think about whether those men really deserved it.
Friday 10 February 2017
Weapons & The First World War - Bolt Action Rifles
Welcome to our brand new series all about the weapons used during the first world war. Over the next few months, we will be exploring what weaponry was used to fight during the war and at the end of this series, hopefully you will have a better understanding of whether they were a good idea or not.
For today's post, we are thinking all about bolt action rifles. These were the basic design from which there were many variations depending on the country of original. Bolt action rifles were at their most used point in their life during the first world war, with all sides using a variant of one. British soldiers were each issued with a bolt action rifle as part of their kit but we will get onto what it was like as this series unfolds.
For today's post, we are thinking all about bolt action rifles. These were the basic design from which there were many variations depending on the country of original. Bolt action rifles were at their most used point in their life during the first world war, with all sides using a variant of one. British soldiers were each issued with a bolt action rifle as part of their kit but we will get onto what it was like as this series unfolds.
Thursday 9 February 2017
Conscientious Objectors During The First World War
We have by now probably all heard about the volunteer drive led by Lord Kitchener at the outbreak of the first world war. Where men up and down the country flocked in their thousands to enlist to fight. But not everyone wanted to fight and this became even more apparent when conscription was introduced in early 1916. In fact, there was over 16,000 men that refused to fight, usually for either morale or religious grounds. As a consequence, they were sent to a tribunal which more often than not were often harsh and the defendant could expect to be ridiculed. The details of these tribunals would be made public and men would often find that whole villages or towns would turn against them. They had a stigma attached to them and nobody wanted to be associated with them. There are a countless number of stories where these men have been refused service at a shop or pub and people would actually cross the road to avoid these men. Added to this, those men, known more commonly as Conchies, were often beaten up by groups of men. I can only imagine what a scary and lonely time this would have been for them.
Despite all this, these men weren't just going to be allowed to sit at home for the duration of the war and in fact many of them didn't want to anyway. The often carried out medical roles such as stretcher barer's which I think is one of the most bravest things to do - go out on no mans land, without a weapon to collect wounded soldiers. Others carried out work of national importance often on roads or on the land.
For over 6,000 of those men sent to tribunals, life wasn't like that. This was because they were refused exemption and were told instead that they still had to fight. If they still refused, they were either sentenced to prison or even the death penalty.
A controversial organisation in connection with conscientious objectors was that of The Order Of The White Feather, which was set up by Admiral Charles Fitzgerald, almost immediately after war broke out. The organisation asked women to hand a white feather to any young man who was not in uniform. It caused upset and humiliation to those men as the white feather was seen as a symbol of cowardice. Stories told of receiving a white feather show that they often had the desired effect, with those men joining up very soon after receiving one.
As the war continued, these white feathers started to do more harm than good. For instance those soldiers home on leave and out of uniform often found themselves recipient of one as well as those who had been honorarily discharged. The Order Of The White Feather was starting to work the other way and was causing huge outrage. So much so that by the end of the war, the organisation was hugely frowned upon.
The damage had been done and for many of those who had received a white feather, they would probably never forget the humiliation. For the conscientious objectors that returned to civilian life after the war, their lives would never be the same and many of them still found themselves carrying the stigma and being outcast from the rest of the community. Sadly, for those who were shot for their believes, it would be 90 years and many battles for their families to face, before they would be pardoned.
Despite all this, these men weren't just going to be allowed to sit at home for the duration of the war and in fact many of them didn't want to anyway. The often carried out medical roles such as stretcher barer's which I think is one of the most bravest things to do - go out on no mans land, without a weapon to collect wounded soldiers. Others carried out work of national importance often on roads or on the land.
For over 6,000 of those men sent to tribunals, life wasn't like that. This was because they were refused exemption and were told instead that they still had to fight. If they still refused, they were either sentenced to prison or even the death penalty.
A controversial organisation in connection with conscientious objectors was that of The Order Of The White Feather, which was set up by Admiral Charles Fitzgerald, almost immediately after war broke out. The organisation asked women to hand a white feather to any young man who was not in uniform. It caused upset and humiliation to those men as the white feather was seen as a symbol of cowardice. Stories told of receiving a white feather show that they often had the desired effect, with those men joining up very soon after receiving one.
As the war continued, these white feathers started to do more harm than good. For instance those soldiers home on leave and out of uniform often found themselves recipient of one as well as those who had been honorarily discharged. The Order Of The White Feather was starting to work the other way and was causing huge outrage. So much so that by the end of the war, the organisation was hugely frowned upon.
The damage had been done and for many of those who had received a white feather, they would probably never forget the humiliation. For the conscientious objectors that returned to civilian life after the war, their lives would never be the same and many of them still found themselves carrying the stigma and being outcast from the rest of the community. Sadly, for those who were shot for their believes, it would be 90 years and many battles for their families to face, before they would be pardoned.
Tuesday 7 February 2017
Lawrence Of Arabia & The First World War
Thomas Edward Lawrence was born on the 16th August 1888, in Wales. Interested in archaeology at a very early age, he spent the early years of his life exploring various historical places. When the first world war broke out, the British Army intelligence section recruited him where he carried out the role of Junior Officer in Egypt.
In October 1916, T E Lawrence was sent to meet with two crucial Arab leaders at Jiddah, a Saudi Arabian port situated on the Red Sea area. Here negotiations were held between Lawrence, Faisal ibn Ali and Nuri es-Said with the outcome being an agreement to help lead an Arab revolt against the Turkish Army. Just one month later, T E Lawrence became part of Feisal's forces in the role of a trusted Liaison Officer. It was at this point that he started to become known as Lawrence of Arabia.
July the following year, Lawrence and his men carried out raids on the Damascus-Medina railway as well as successfully capturing the port of Aqaba. November 1917 saw Lawrence part of a raiding party in Southern Syria against the Turkish in the hope of disrupting communications. However, he was captured by Turkish forces, tortured and raped, yet surprisingly, the very next day, old clothes were left for him and he was able to escape.
For some people, those experiences would be too much to continue, however, Lawrence then joined forces with Edmund Allenby and it was them that entered Damascus with their forces on the 1st October 1918.
Post-war, Lawrence attended the Paris Peace Conference alongside Prince Feisal and chose to wear traditional native dress, consisting of a long white robe and headdress. As the Paris Peace Conference came to a close, Lawrence felt that, after everything the Arabs had done to help win the war, they had been betrayed. The main course of this being the French becoming in charge of Syria, when the Arabs could have had this area themselves.
Lawrence achieved so much during the first world war but his story doesn't end there. In fact it continues for a quite a while, often causing controversy, until his tragic death.
In October 1916, T E Lawrence was sent to meet with two crucial Arab leaders at Jiddah, a Saudi Arabian port situated on the Red Sea area. Here negotiations were held between Lawrence, Faisal ibn Ali and Nuri es-Said with the outcome being an agreement to help lead an Arab revolt against the Turkish Army. Just one month later, T E Lawrence became part of Feisal's forces in the role of a trusted Liaison Officer. It was at this point that he started to become known as Lawrence of Arabia.
July the following year, Lawrence and his men carried out raids on the Damascus-Medina railway as well as successfully capturing the port of Aqaba. November 1917 saw Lawrence part of a raiding party in Southern Syria against the Turkish in the hope of disrupting communications. However, he was captured by Turkish forces, tortured and raped, yet surprisingly, the very next day, old clothes were left for him and he was able to escape.
For some people, those experiences would be too much to continue, however, Lawrence then joined forces with Edmund Allenby and it was them that entered Damascus with their forces on the 1st October 1918.
Post-war, Lawrence attended the Paris Peace Conference alongside Prince Feisal and chose to wear traditional native dress, consisting of a long white robe and headdress. As the Paris Peace Conference came to a close, Lawrence felt that, after everything the Arabs had done to help win the war, they had been betrayed. The main course of this being the French becoming in charge of Syria, when the Arabs could have had this area themselves.
Lawrence achieved so much during the first world war but his story doesn't end there. In fact it continues for a quite a while, often causing controversy, until his tragic death.
Thursday 2 February 2017
Railways & The First World War
Railways had been used for a long time before the first world war broke out and actually played a huge part in history in the days before the war broke out. It was the railways in neutral countries Luxembourg and Belgium that Germany wanted to use to get to France. They were told no but the Belgians knew that Germany would ignore this and so set about digging cavities, before filling them with explosives that could be set off with a moments notice. Added to this, derailed trains and emptied engine tanks were used to also block passages. At the beginning of August, German troops took over the railways in Luxembourg, with some travelling right into Belgium by train. Whilst sabotage efforts did manage to slow them down, it didn't stop them. In fact many of the explosives that had been placed inside tunnels failed to explode.
German troops set up Metz, which is now part of France, a huge station that would aid them in the war. It had a staggering eleven platforms and could receive anything up to eighty trains a day. A lot of planning must have gone into this war station because every track had two platforms, one which was to be used my troops and one which would be used for the loading of weapons and other supplies. This meant that trains could be loaded and unloaded relatively straight forwardly and with as little chaos as possible. What Germany really wanted was to get to Paris, the heart of the French railway. Here you could find two railway ring road tracks with lots of lines leading off of them that travelled straight to German boarders, but it was not going to be easy.
On the 4th August, Britain declared war on Germany and Lord Kitchener created a huge recruitment drive which successfully gained thousands of volunteers within days. Volunteers needed to get to training camps as soon as possible and usually travelled the distance by train. As well as this, 80,000 already trained soldiers needed to get to Southampton as soon as possible so that they could get across to France to begin the fighting. Train lines were already in place that went straight to the port key and it was estimated that they would get about seventy trains a day arriving, however they actually managed to get over ninety a day there and so exceeded expectations. The use of the railways and their hard working employees meant that over 66,000 soldiers managed to get across France just in time for the battle at Mons in Belgium. In fact Germany couldn't believe how quickly the British had managed to mobilise an army and get it across the channel.
At the same time, the French 6th Army had been transported, along with their supplies, by train to Marne, where they joined up with British soldiers and fought off the German advance. By this point, it was obvious that the Schlieffen Plan had failed and it was going to be much harder than the Germans had anticipated.
Lord Kitchener's recruitment drive not only hit unskilled workers but it also hit the railway workers with over 100,000 enlisting shortly after war was declared. Many of them were assigned to the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers due to them being highly skills. Their main role was to assemble and maintain the pre-made railways so that they could then get troops and supplies to the front. These pre-made tracks could be assembled along roads wherever needed, at a moments notice. The railway workers possessed skills that could be used at the front and so women were seen more than ever working on the railways. They had previously held domestic roles such as waitressing and cleaning however they were now undertaking harder tasks with some even becoming engineers. Although I would imagine the men too old or young to fight weren't happy about women taking these roles, they had no choice because at the outbreak of the war, the railways had become under government control for the duration of the war. They wanted to transport huge numbers of troops and supplies daily to help the war effort and they didn't care who was doing it so long as it run quickly and efficiently.
The railways also became hugely important when the wounded soldiers began to trickle through and was soon a steady stream as the war progressed. Trains were converted as hospital trains with beds or stretchers laid out instead of seats. It meant that as many of the wounded could be transported within one journey as possible, to get these men much needed treatment. The trains at Southampton were then responsible for transporting those soldiers so badly wounded, to hospitals and convalescent homes around the country. Without these trains, many of those men would have died of their wounds or of infection before they could be treated.
The hard work and efficiency of the railways and the workers helped us win the war for sure. Without them, our soldiers would have arrived at the front a little to late and would have had an uphill struggle to even create the trenches in which they were to live. Although there was still the matter of the shell crisis, it would have been a whole lot worse if we hadn't have been able to transport munitions to the front as quickly as we did. Of course it goes without saying that an army marches on its stomach and our soldiers would have certainly have died from starvation had much needed food not got to the front. One thing that is certain is that the railway helped Britain and her allies win the war.
German troops set up Metz, which is now part of France, a huge station that would aid them in the war. It had a staggering eleven platforms and could receive anything up to eighty trains a day. A lot of planning must have gone into this war station because every track had two platforms, one which was to be used my troops and one which would be used for the loading of weapons and other supplies. This meant that trains could be loaded and unloaded relatively straight forwardly and with as little chaos as possible. What Germany really wanted was to get to Paris, the heart of the French railway. Here you could find two railway ring road tracks with lots of lines leading off of them that travelled straight to German boarders, but it was not going to be easy.
On the 4th August, Britain declared war on Germany and Lord Kitchener created a huge recruitment drive which successfully gained thousands of volunteers within days. Volunteers needed to get to training camps as soon as possible and usually travelled the distance by train. As well as this, 80,000 already trained soldiers needed to get to Southampton as soon as possible so that they could get across to France to begin the fighting. Train lines were already in place that went straight to the port key and it was estimated that they would get about seventy trains a day arriving, however they actually managed to get over ninety a day there and so exceeded expectations. The use of the railways and their hard working employees meant that over 66,000 soldiers managed to get across France just in time for the battle at Mons in Belgium. In fact Germany couldn't believe how quickly the British had managed to mobilise an army and get it across the channel.
At the same time, the French 6th Army had been transported, along with their supplies, by train to Marne, where they joined up with British soldiers and fought off the German advance. By this point, it was obvious that the Schlieffen Plan had failed and it was going to be much harder than the Germans had anticipated.
Lord Kitchener's recruitment drive not only hit unskilled workers but it also hit the railway workers with over 100,000 enlisting shortly after war was declared. Many of them were assigned to the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers due to them being highly skills. Their main role was to assemble and maintain the pre-made railways so that they could then get troops and supplies to the front. These pre-made tracks could be assembled along roads wherever needed, at a moments notice. The railway workers possessed skills that could be used at the front and so women were seen more than ever working on the railways. They had previously held domestic roles such as waitressing and cleaning however they were now undertaking harder tasks with some even becoming engineers. Although I would imagine the men too old or young to fight weren't happy about women taking these roles, they had no choice because at the outbreak of the war, the railways had become under government control for the duration of the war. They wanted to transport huge numbers of troops and supplies daily to help the war effort and they didn't care who was doing it so long as it run quickly and efficiently.
The railways also became hugely important when the wounded soldiers began to trickle through and was soon a steady stream as the war progressed. Trains were converted as hospital trains with beds or stretchers laid out instead of seats. It meant that as many of the wounded could be transported within one journey as possible, to get these men much needed treatment. The trains at Southampton were then responsible for transporting those soldiers so badly wounded, to hospitals and convalescent homes around the country. Without these trains, many of those men would have died of their wounds or of infection before they could be treated.
The hard work and efficiency of the railways and the workers helped us win the war for sure. Without them, our soldiers would have arrived at the front a little to late and would have had an uphill struggle to even create the trenches in which they were to live. Although there was still the matter of the shell crisis, it would have been a whole lot worse if we hadn't have been able to transport munitions to the front as quickly as we did. Of course it goes without saying that an army marches on its stomach and our soldiers would have certainly have died from starvation had much needed food not got to the front. One thing that is certain is that the railway helped Britain and her allies win the war.
Monday 30 January 2017
Monarchy & The First World War
Being British, the Royal family have always played a large part in my life. Whatever big event is happening, me along with many others, look to see what the royal family is doing about it or what they think about something. But that has not always been the case - When the first world war broke out, there were quite a few countries housing a royal family. They included those in Germany & Russia, both being cousins of our very own King George V. If you had any doubts about King George being of German heritage, his family name Saxe Coburg Gotha certainly proved it and quite a large proportion of the British public cast doubts about which side King George was really on. In 1917, King George decided that he wanted to change his name and the royal family became the house of Windsor, at the same time giving up all German titles.
King George spent much of the war visiting troops, both on the front line, with many visits to the Weston Front over the course of the war and to those injured in hospitals. He also realised how important morale was at home and could see how much more work women were taking on in factories and so paid a lot of visits to these all around the country too.
Queen Mary was also seen to be visiting injured soldiers in hospitals and made headlines after she had placed austerity measures at the palace, ensuring that they were all in it together, no matter what the class.
But it was not just the King and Queen that helped the war effort, for they passed this onto their children too. Probably one of the most famous acts was with Princess Mary and her Princess Mary's Christmas Gift Fund. Over £100,000 was raised, allowing for every British soldier and sailor to receive a gift on Christmas morning 1914. As well as creating this, she also joined her mother to many of the hospital visits as well as visiting various welfare organisations. Princess Mary was keen to promote the Girl Guides, VAD's and the Land Girls and I believe these organisations received more volunteers as a result. In June 1918, she began a nursing course at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, working two days a week on the Alexandra ward.
Prince Edward VIII was commissioned in the 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards shortly before the outbreak of war. However, Lord Kitchener refused to allow him to fight on the front line itself due to him being the heir to the throne. Prince Edward later joined the British Expeditionary Force in France and was seen as a great morale boost to the soldiers fighting.
Perhaps the member of family whose first world war experience is very rarely heard is that of Prince Albert who as a sub-lieutenant, saw and fought first hand in the Battle of Jutland whilst serving on Collingwood. In November 1917, he had a duodenal ulcer operated on but that didn't stop him. In 1918, Prince Albert was appointed Officer in Charge of Boys at the Royal Naval Air Service training camp at Cranwell. He then transferred to the Royal Air Force and became Officer Commanding Number 4 Squadron of the Boys Wing. In August the same year, he completed just two weeks training before taking command of a squadron on the Cadet Wing. On the 23rd October, he notably flew across the channel to Autigny, a first for somebody of the royal family to have done so in what would be seen as a war zone.
This led to them doing even more during the second world war and in conflicts after this and has moulded the royal family we know today. A royal family that seem very down to earth and one that are more than willing to play their part.
King George spent much of the war visiting troops, both on the front line, with many visits to the Weston Front over the course of the war and to those injured in hospitals. He also realised how important morale was at home and could see how much more work women were taking on in factories and so paid a lot of visits to these all around the country too.
Queen Mary was also seen to be visiting injured soldiers in hospitals and made headlines after she had placed austerity measures at the palace, ensuring that they were all in it together, no matter what the class.
But it was not just the King and Queen that helped the war effort, for they passed this onto their children too. Probably one of the most famous acts was with Princess Mary and her Princess Mary's Christmas Gift Fund. Over £100,000 was raised, allowing for every British soldier and sailor to receive a gift on Christmas morning 1914. As well as creating this, she also joined her mother to many of the hospital visits as well as visiting various welfare organisations. Princess Mary was keen to promote the Girl Guides, VAD's and the Land Girls and I believe these organisations received more volunteers as a result. In June 1918, she began a nursing course at the Great Ormond Street Hospital, working two days a week on the Alexandra ward.
Prince Edward VIII was commissioned in the 1st Battalion the Grenadier Guards shortly before the outbreak of war. However, Lord Kitchener refused to allow him to fight on the front line itself due to him being the heir to the throne. Prince Edward later joined the British Expeditionary Force in France and was seen as a great morale boost to the soldiers fighting.
Perhaps the member of family whose first world war experience is very rarely heard is that of Prince Albert who as a sub-lieutenant, saw and fought first hand in the Battle of Jutland whilst serving on Collingwood. In November 1917, he had a duodenal ulcer operated on but that didn't stop him. In 1918, Prince Albert was appointed Officer in Charge of Boys at the Royal Naval Air Service training camp at Cranwell. He then transferred to the Royal Air Force and became Officer Commanding Number 4 Squadron of the Boys Wing. In August the same year, he completed just two weeks training before taking command of a squadron on the Cadet Wing. On the 23rd October, he notably flew across the channel to Autigny, a first for somebody of the royal family to have done so in what would be seen as a war zone.
This led to them doing even more during the second world war and in conflicts after this and has moulded the royal family we know today. A royal family that seem very down to earth and one that are more than willing to play their part.
Saturday 28 January 2017
Winston Churchill & The First World War
Winston Churchill will always be a huge part of British history, so much so that he is now on our new £5 notes. For many he is remembered for how he led us to victory during the second world war however, he had achieved many things in the years beforehand.
Born at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on the 30th November 1874, he joined the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in September 1893. After extensive training, Winston joined the 4th Hussars in 1895 where he saw action on the Indian north west frontier and in the Sudan. In 1898, Winston was just one of many that took part in the Battle of Omdurman. However, it was also during these years that he started to right reports for the Daily Telegraph as well as beginning to write books on war.
Winston left the army in 1899 to pursue a career as a war correspondent for the Morning Post. Whilst reporting on the Boer War, he was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. He made headlines himself when he managed to escape back to Britain.
Winston's political career took off when he was elected as conservative mp for Oldham in 1900. It was during this period that he became a supporter of social reform. By 1904, Winston had changed political parties, now being a member of the Liberal Democrats. 1906 saw Winston becoming Under-Secretary Of State for the Colonies and just two years later, he was promoted to President of the Board of Trade. His rise continued in 1910 when he became Home Secretary and just one year later he was made the First Lord of the Admiralty. It was here that he began to modernise the navy, with many of his changes still in place in our Royal Navy today.
In 1912, Winston set up something that would not only help us to win the first world war, but would also help us to win the second world war as well as many of the wars that would follow. He set up the Royal Naval Air Service and established an Air Department at the Admiralty. Without this, I believe that not only would we be playing catch up with the German's, but we would also have been fighting a very different war.
With the outbreak of the first world war, Winston joined the War Council but he was blamed for the failure of the Dardanelles campaign and was subsequently moved to the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Here he would have no influence of the countries war policy. Not happy with this, Winston soon decided to rejoin the army and ended up commanding a battalion of the Royal Scotts Fusiliers.
When David Lloyd George replaced Herbert Asquith as British Prime Minister, he brought Winston back into the government. In 1917, he was made Minister of Munitions, a role which I believe was made for him. Here he was responsible for the production of guns, shells, tanks & aeroplanes - basically all of the things we needed to fight the enemy. Winston was to hold this position until the end of the war and in post-war Britain was made Minister of War & Air, but of course this is only a small part of the story of Winston Churchill.
Born at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock on the 30th November 1874, he joined the Royal Military College at Sandhurst in September 1893. After extensive training, Winston joined the 4th Hussars in 1895 where he saw action on the Indian north west frontier and in the Sudan. In 1898, Winston was just one of many that took part in the Battle of Omdurman. However, it was also during these years that he started to right reports for the Daily Telegraph as well as beginning to write books on war.
Winston left the army in 1899 to pursue a career as a war correspondent for the Morning Post. Whilst reporting on the Boer War, he was captured and taken as a prisoner of war. He made headlines himself when he managed to escape back to Britain.
Winston's political career took off when he was elected as conservative mp for Oldham in 1900. It was during this period that he became a supporter of social reform. By 1904, Winston had changed political parties, now being a member of the Liberal Democrats. 1906 saw Winston becoming Under-Secretary Of State for the Colonies and just two years later, he was promoted to President of the Board of Trade. His rise continued in 1910 when he became Home Secretary and just one year later he was made the First Lord of the Admiralty. It was here that he began to modernise the navy, with many of his changes still in place in our Royal Navy today.
In 1912, Winston set up something that would not only help us to win the first world war, but would also help us to win the second world war as well as many of the wars that would follow. He set up the Royal Naval Air Service and established an Air Department at the Admiralty. Without this, I believe that not only would we be playing catch up with the German's, but we would also have been fighting a very different war.
With the outbreak of the first world war, Winston joined the War Council but he was blamed for the failure of the Dardanelles campaign and was subsequently moved to the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Here he would have no influence of the countries war policy. Not happy with this, Winston soon decided to rejoin the army and ended up commanding a battalion of the Royal Scotts Fusiliers.
When David Lloyd George replaced Herbert Asquith as British Prime Minister, he brought Winston back into the government. In 1917, he was made Minister of Munitions, a role which I believe was made for him. Here he was responsible for the production of guns, shells, tanks & aeroplanes - basically all of the things we needed to fight the enemy. Winston was to hold this position until the end of the war and in post-war Britain was made Minister of War & Air, but of course this is only a small part of the story of Winston Churchill.
Monday 16 January 2017
Tanks & The First World War - Bovington Tank Museum
Situated in the heart of the Dorset countryside, The Tank Museum at Bovington is home to one of the largest collections of tanks from around the world, with six large halls jam packed full of vehicles as well as other memorabilia. There are a great many interesting world war one items held at the museum, some of which have we have even mentioned in this series - Hornsby Chain Track Tractor, Tank Mark VIII, Tank Mark IV, Tank Mark I, Tank Mark V, Tank Mark IX, Tank Mark II, The Whippet, Char Renault FT17, Sponson Trailer and of course my favourite, Little Willie.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the tank, the museum has a new exhibition which was opened last year called Tank men. It consists of telling the stories of eight men to help you get a better understanding of what life inside a tank was like. Another highlight of the museum is of course the replica tank used in the War Horse film.
But its not just a walk around the museum, they also hold events throughout the year which are always a great day out. Events such as Tiger day and Tankfest allow you to get up close and personal with the tanks as well as be able to speak to the volunteers who preserve them who are always happy to answer your questions. For a small fee, you can also tank a ride in various vehicles on special event days too!
I personally love the Tankfest event because it has helped me gain more knowledge and a better understanding of battles that have taken place in history. Towards the end of the day, there is usually one large battle rein-acted, complete with pyrotechnics, firing of tanks and sometimes even air displays. I will never forget the year they chose the first world war as their topic and at the end, all the rein-actors stood in front of the War Horse tank and posed for a photo. But this wasn't just any photo, for the tank fired poppies which fell all around them. I can tell you that it was so eerily quiet around the arena as everyone paid their respects and it certainly was moving.
Both the museum itself and the event days are perfect for any age as well as those with mobility issues. I would definitely recommend taking some money if you are planning on visiting the museum because the gift shop has such a huge range of items you won't know what to choose!
To mark the 100th anniversary of the tank, the museum has a new exhibition which was opened last year called Tank men. It consists of telling the stories of eight men to help you get a better understanding of what life inside a tank was like. Another highlight of the museum is of course the replica tank used in the War Horse film.
But its not just a walk around the museum, they also hold events throughout the year which are always a great day out. Events such as Tiger day and Tankfest allow you to get up close and personal with the tanks as well as be able to speak to the volunteers who preserve them who are always happy to answer your questions. For a small fee, you can also tank a ride in various vehicles on special event days too!
I personally love the Tankfest event because it has helped me gain more knowledge and a better understanding of battles that have taken place in history. Towards the end of the day, there is usually one large battle rein-acted, complete with pyrotechnics, firing of tanks and sometimes even air displays. I will never forget the year they chose the first world war as their topic and at the end, all the rein-actors stood in front of the War Horse tank and posed for a photo. But this wasn't just any photo, for the tank fired poppies which fell all around them. I can tell you that it was so eerily quiet around the arena as everyone paid their respects and it certainly was moving.
Both the museum itself and the event days are perfect for any age as well as those with mobility issues. I would definitely recommend taking some money if you are planning on visiting the museum because the gift shop has such a huge range of items you won't know what to choose!
Wednesday 11 January 2017
Uniforms Of The First World War
Uniform has always played a big role within military history. Even today, you have a parade uniform to be worn on special occasions, as well as your combat uniform which you are still expected to keep in perfect condition.
Before the first world war, uniforms were seen as something to be proud of, very much the same as today. But there was one difference - uniforms then were often made of patriotic colours, but shiny brass buttons and impractical extra's. Uniform was also a way of seeing the enemy and at the outbreak of the first world war, that was still the case. I therefore thought I would give a quick description of the military uniforms of the time so that you can make your mind up about which one was the best.
Starting off with the German Infantry uniform, this is probably one of the most famous of the war, in particular for its Picklehaube which was a spiked helmet with a canvas cover over the top. This was worn for the first two years of the war before in 1916 it being replaced by steel helmets, which still looked odd with the 8mm horns on either side for circulation. The German's modified their tunics as well, creating large turned back cuffs where important documents and belongings could be kept. These tunics were made of wool in a field grey colour so as not to look too bold on the battlefield as well as for warmth. A chest armour also started off as part of the uniform for some of the men, particularly those on sentry or outpost duties, however many of the men ditched these quite quickly into the war. This was probably being they weighed in at a staggering 65kg! In the latter war years, British style Puttees as well as ankle boots were often wore.
The other man enemy, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers had a very similar uniform. Their uniform started off being made in a colour called Pike Grey, which looked more like a blue grey colour. They had a distinctive hat called a Kappe and had a winter and summer blouse, depending on where you were fighting. The summer version was made of a linen material to be cool and breathable. By 1915, the introduction of field grey and field green uniform started however with the shortage of supplies and material, captured Italian uniforms were seen to be used more often.
A country that just simply didn't get the memo about drab colour uniform was France. At the outbreak of the first world war, they could be seen fore miles around in the extremely visible blue coats and red trousers. Although patriotic, you could literally see them in the distance and probably was the reason for so many of their deaths in the first few months of the war. In 1915, French soldiers were issued with horizon-blue clothing, whilst British style Puttees were issued to replace leather gaiters as leather became harder to get hold of. By the end of the war, they also had 'Adrian' steel helmets, with them being the first country to introduce them. These new steel helmets had a purpose, not just to look the part but also to protect the head from shrapnel.
Lastly, the only country to have a camouflage uniform from the beginning, the British. Their uniform was designed to blend more into their surroundings and consisted of a dress tunic, trousers, a stiffened peak cap, Puttee & boots with hobnail soles. Khaki drill uniform was also available to those fighting in warmer climates, being made in a lighter desert colour and of lighter, breathable material.
As with all aspects of the first world war, it was a new war and one which changed how we fight wars forever. Long gone were the nights on shining armour, in their place was a bone weary, dirty looking soldier. These changes to the uniform were the starting point to what we associate with today - blue the the Royal Air Force, camo green or desert colours for the Army.
Before the first world war, uniforms were seen as something to be proud of, very much the same as today. But there was one difference - uniforms then were often made of patriotic colours, but shiny brass buttons and impractical extra's. Uniform was also a way of seeing the enemy and at the outbreak of the first world war, that was still the case. I therefore thought I would give a quick description of the military uniforms of the time so that you can make your mind up about which one was the best.
Starting off with the German Infantry uniform, this is probably one of the most famous of the war, in particular for its Picklehaube which was a spiked helmet with a canvas cover over the top. This was worn for the first two years of the war before in 1916 it being replaced by steel helmets, which still looked odd with the 8mm horns on either side for circulation. The German's modified their tunics as well, creating large turned back cuffs where important documents and belongings could be kept. These tunics were made of wool in a field grey colour so as not to look too bold on the battlefield as well as for warmth. A chest armour also started off as part of the uniform for some of the men, particularly those on sentry or outpost duties, however many of the men ditched these quite quickly into the war. This was probably being they weighed in at a staggering 65kg! In the latter war years, British style Puttees as well as ankle boots were often wore.
The other man enemy, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers had a very similar uniform. Their uniform started off being made in a colour called Pike Grey, which looked more like a blue grey colour. They had a distinctive hat called a Kappe and had a winter and summer blouse, depending on where you were fighting. The summer version was made of a linen material to be cool and breathable. By 1915, the introduction of field grey and field green uniform started however with the shortage of supplies and material, captured Italian uniforms were seen to be used more often.
A country that just simply didn't get the memo about drab colour uniform was France. At the outbreak of the first world war, they could be seen fore miles around in the extremely visible blue coats and red trousers. Although patriotic, you could literally see them in the distance and probably was the reason for so many of their deaths in the first few months of the war. In 1915, French soldiers were issued with horizon-blue clothing, whilst British style Puttees were issued to replace leather gaiters as leather became harder to get hold of. By the end of the war, they also had 'Adrian' steel helmets, with them being the first country to introduce them. These new steel helmets had a purpose, not just to look the part but also to protect the head from shrapnel.
Lastly, the only country to have a camouflage uniform from the beginning, the British. Their uniform was designed to blend more into their surroundings and consisted of a dress tunic, trousers, a stiffened peak cap, Puttee & boots with hobnail soles. Khaki drill uniform was also available to those fighting in warmer climates, being made in a lighter desert colour and of lighter, breathable material.
As with all aspects of the first world war, it was a new war and one which changed how we fight wars forever. Long gone were the nights on shining armour, in their place was a bone weary, dirty looking soldier. These changes to the uniform were the starting point to what we associate with today - blue the the Royal Air Force, camo green or desert colours for the Army.
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