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!

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. 

A Look Back At 1916

As 1916 comes to a close and we welcome 1917, here is a look back at just a few of the main events of the last year. Starting us off was the introduction of conscription in Britain on 27th January. This was due to the drop in number in men volunteering, mixed with the sheer amount the were being injured or killed on a daily basis. 

On the 21st February, German soldiers launched a huge attack against French soldiers at Verdun. This was the first time Germany used flamethrowers and storm troops. 

By the 19th April President Wilson was publicly calling for Germany to stop their unrestricted u-boat policy with immediate effect. This was because German u-boats were sinking all ships in enemy waters without warning, whether it was war related or civilian.  
27th April saw Lord Kitchener asked the United States Of American for their military participation within Europe. Just two days later on the 29th April, British Empire forces surrendered to Turkish forces in Mesopotamia with 13,000 prisoners being captured. 

The 31st May till the 1st June saw the Battle of Jutland take place, the largest sea battle so far to take place. 

1st July saw the beginning of the battle of the Somme, with an estimated 60,000 British men being injured or killed on the first day alone. This battle would continue all through the summer and well into Autumn/ Winter before it would end.

15th September saw tanks used for the first time, on the Somme battlefield. It wouldn't be until the 18th November that the battle of the Somme comes to an end. 

Although by this time there had been many a Zeppelin raid on London, the 28th November saw the first air raid over London carried out by German aeroplanes. 

The last main event of the year was on the 7th December when the news was announced that David Lloyd George was replacing Asquith as British Prime Minister. We wait with baited breath to see how he fares in the new year. 

Christmas 1916

Christmas 1916. Although the nation didn't know it, was slap bang right in the middle of the war. Had they known they were only half way through, I would imagine they would have soon given up. December 1916 was a hard one, both on the front and at home. The soldiers on the front had spent months fighting day and night during the battle of the Somme and had seen the friends injured or killed among them. 

The home front was full of shortages, especially from the likes of bread and meat. German naval operations over the previous months had meant that everything seemed to be in short supply and what there was saw a huge price increase almost overnight. To add to this, Europe seemed to be having the worst weather in over thirty years and so you can imagine how low morale was getting. 

Telegrams were still arriving each day, they certainly couldn't stop for Christmas. However, what was different was how much more of a greater understanding the home front had. This was due to The Somme film being released in cinemas around the country. It was the first time anything like this had been shown and for women was the first real insight into what war was really like. They now knew that when those telegrams arrived, the chances were that suffering had probably been endured before death. 

The home front did try to connect with the front line soldiers, with many people putting together food hampers or knitting scarves and socks to send to the soldiers. Of course, families still sent letters and parcels to their loved ones if they could, but now there was a greater sense of doing there bit.

Christmas was so different then compared to now. Homes didn't have electric and so there were none of the pretty lights we all love to see around. Neither were presents wrapped because that was a waste and could be better used to help the war effort. People didn't expect to get a present either but were grateful if they received one. Remembering this certainly does make you appreciate the things you have got in life and shows the true meaning of Christmas - to be with those you love and cherish memories that are made. 

I hope you have all had a lovely Christmas this year. I wanted to end by sharing this poem I read recently by an Australian soldier named Leslie George Rub. In a round about way, he tells you exactly what life was like during Christmas 1916, so I hope you enjoy it!

Christmas Day On The Somme

‘Twas Christmas Day on the Somme

The men stood on parade, 

The snow laid six feet on the ground

Twas twenty in the shade.

Up spoke the Captain ‘gallant man’,

“Just hear what I’ve to say, 

You may not have remembered that

Today is Christmas Day.”

“The General has expressed a wish

This day may be observed, 

Today you will only work eight hours,

A rest that’s well deserved.”

“I hope you’ll keep yourselves quite clean

And smart and spruce and nice,

The stream is frozen hard

But a pick will break the ice.”

“All men will get two biscuits each,

I’m sure you’re tired of bread,

I’m sorry there’s no turkey

But there’s Bully Beef instead.”

“The puddings plum have not arrived

But they are on their way,

I’ll guarantee they’ll be in time

To eat next Christmas Day.”

“You’re parcels would have been in time

But I regret to say

The vessel which conveyed them was

Torpedoed on the way.”

“The Quartermaster’s got your rum

But you may get some yet,

Each man will be presented with

A Woodbine cigarette.”

“The Huns have caught us in the rear

And painted France all red,

Pray do not let that trouble you, 

Tomorrow you’ll be dead.”

“Now ere you go I will you all

This season of good cheer,

A very happy Christmas and

A prosperous New Year.”

Tanks & The First World War: Scheider CA1

Today's post is all about an armoured fighting vehicle that at lot of people refer to as the first French tank, although it never had a turret. It was designed to open passages for the infantry as well as suppressing German machine gun nets with the hope of ending the stalemate on the front line. It looked so unusual and so unlike anything we have seen since because it has a large overhanging nose section that was used to crush through barbed wire. It was armed with a 75mm Hotchkiss machine gun which was usually situated on the right side of the vehicle and could carry a crew of six. 

The Scheider CA1 first saw action on 16th April 1917 but its biggest role was during 1918 when they were used not only to halt the German Spring Offensive but to also break the German front in the French Summer Offensive. 

Design faults were plentiful in the Scheider CA1, in fact the list seems pretty endless. Poor ventilation, poor vision, inadequate armour and very cramped conditions inside made it unbearable to those who were inside. In addition to this, it had internal petrol tanks which were extremely dangerous, especially during battle. The overhanging nose section also proved to be a failure because it made the mobility bad. 

Improved designs were put forward almost straight away but they were never put into production because other, completely new designs were also put forward. When the war came to a close, most of the Scheider CA1's were scrapped due to the bad design, although some were turned into utility vehicles. Having said that, some did put in an appearance in the Spanish civil war, but that was really the last time they were used. 

READ ALL ABOUT IT - LLOYD GEORGE BECOMES BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

It is today, on the 8th December 1916, that I announce events which took place yesterday, whereby King George V formally asked David Lloyd George to form a new coalition government, following on from Asquith's resignation on the 5th December.

Born on the 17th January 1863, David Lloyd George has faced a lot of criticism both among his own party and the British public. However, he is highly knowledgeable about what needs to be done to ensure victory and has already set the wheels in motion to do so.

Lloyd George trained as a solicitor in his youth before joining the political world. In 1906, he was announced as President Of The Board Of Trade, while just two years later becoming Chancellor Of The Exchequer. It was here that he started to change the lives of the working class. He created and pushed though parliament the Old Age Pensions Act, to ensure people too old to work would still have an income.
In 1911, Lloyd George put through the 1911 National Insurance Act, a form of health insurance scheme, allowing free medical attentions & medicine to workers.

David Lloyd George recently became Minister Of Munitions in 1915, increasing production of much needed weapons after last years shell crisis.

It has been said that he is already shaking things up in parliament, with talk of a daily meeting instead of a weekly one so that everything can be discussed each day. We will report on this story as soon as we have anymore information and we wish David Lloyd George the best of luck as Prime Minister.

The First World War - German Homefront

When you search for the home front during the first world war, it is filled with information about what life was like in Britain, yet it is extremely difficult to find information on what life was like in Germany at the same time. Maybe it is because they lost the war? Or maybe it was something that was kept a secret from the rest of the world so that they didn't show how much the war had affected the country. 

At the outbreak of the first world war, there was one country that was better prepared for war than any other nation and that was Germany. What they weren't prepared for was how long the war would last. Like Britons, they thought it would be over pretty quickly. 

From early on in the war, conscription was informed with a vast number of German men being called up. This led to a shortage of male labour in the country, so women and youths were used to fill the job roles.At this time in history, much like Briton, women were paid far less than men for doing the same job. In fact it was usually half the pay of a man's, which, for families, was a huge amount of income lost and so many families found themselves suddenly in extreme poverty. 

Although there is very little information to be had, I would imagine that children, especially boys, suddenly had the weight of the world on their shoulders as they became the man of the family. Schools and childhoods were no longer seen as important, instead it was doing everything possible to win the war. But this was not going to be easy.

Allied soldiers had created a blockade, making importation extremely difficult, so food and supplies were suddenly in short supply. Attention was then turned to the farmers in the country who were called upon to be the main source of food. For many German's, their diet mainly consisted of potatoes on bread so that the German Army could benefit from good nutritious diet so that they could continue to fight.  In 1915, riots started throughout Germany, as many thought farmers in rural areas were stock piling their food whilst the rest of the country was going without. 

By 1916, soap, fat, cheese, butter and eggs were unavailable with coal, shoes and textiles also being almost non-existent. But things were about to get much worse with the winter of 1916/17. A bitterly cold, frosty winter had killed off pretty much all of the potatoes in Germany which was a huge problem considering they made up most of the diet on the German home front. Turnips, which were usually only used to feed livestock, were suddenly being used to fed a hungry nation. Food was so scarce that even the German army had to cut rations in what became known as the Turnip Winter. 

With such a lack of food came with it malnutrition and death due to weakened bodies. Over the course of the war, over 474,000 civilians died various causes all relating to undernourishment and poor diet. 

I can't help that think although there were a lot of similarities between the British home front and the German home front, the German's had it worse off in that respect. Whilst us British never wanted a war and certainly weren't prepared for one, we were pretty quick in setting up organisations and committees to not just win the war but survive as a nation. In contrast, it seems like the German government were so consumed with fighting and winning the war, that they didn't see the problems they were going to be facing at home should the war drag on. It was something that in the years to come Hitler recognised to a certain extend, where during the second world war, he set up various organisations that would help the war effort on the home front.  

Tanks & The First World War: The Whippet

Welcome back to the Tanks & The First World War series. The tank we are talking about in today's edition won't take very long and that is for one main reason - it wasn't until 1917 that this tank or landship was introduced. It meant that it has missed most of the war and although still a great weapon, it never got the fame that previous tank designs were to get. 

The official name for this tank was the Mark A, but it was nicknamed "The Whippet", due to it being faster and much more movable than the original Mark I tank. The Whippet's played a huge part in the offensive at Cambrai during November 1917, where more than 400 tanks created a battering ram that attacked straight through German lines. This was to be one of the only famous battles that The Whippet took part in on a large scale. 

During the post war years, The Whippet was used in several conflicts including those situated in Ireland, but whilst its role during the First World War was short lived, it was the starting point of a design that we would be able to improve on in years to come. 

Remember to join us next Friday for our latest edition of the Tanks & The First World War series. 

The Battle Of The Somme

Friday the 18th November marked the 100th anniversary of the ending of the Battle of the Somme. It was a battle that lasted months and would become one of the most famous in the years to come. Over the last few months, A Wartime Life has been reflected on what each day was like in our The Somme News series. On the last post of this series, I published how great the news was but in reality, for the soldiers on the front, it was probably just another day - after all, the war was still raging and would carry on for another two years. 

From The Somme News series, you would have seen what really happened on the Somme battlefield and will be able to make your own mind up about whether it was a success or a failure. You will probably be able to see why so many men were lost or devastatingly injured and will now know that the Battle of the Somme was not a battle going forward, but one filled with gaining land as well as retreating with a lot of stalemate in between. 

But what makes the Battle of the Somme so special and such a turning point in history is the release of The Somme film in the Autumn of 1916. It was designed to be a propaganda piece but it ended up being so much more. For the first time ever, news reels shown in the cinema showed real fighting and death. It made people understand what killed in action really meant - it wasn't dying in your sleep peacefully. Instead it was usually dying of wounds, in pain and all alone. 

In fact, The Somme film was so popular that within just six weeks of the film being released, 20 million people had been to see it. For the first time, women on the home front were able to get an idea of what their menfolk were going through and what wartime was like on a battlefield far away. For one woman, she would get more than she bargined for when, at the cinema watching the film, she saw a clip of her husband on a stretcher. The horrors of war were there for all on the home front to see and I would imagine it really proved itself as a propaganda piece. It showed fathers, husbands, sons, brothers, all in the thick of it and of course the families at home, watching the film would be looking at the faces shown, to see if it was one of their loved ones. 

The Somme film gave the home front a reason to continue doing their bit and not to complain, because it was nothing compared to what the brave soldiers on the front were enduring. I believe this to be a turning point in the war, because it gave the people of Britain the strength and drive to carry on and eventually the energy to win the war. It gave those, who maybe weren't as of yet, doing anything to help win the war, a reason to do so. Whether it be something as simple as knit socks for soldiers or something more, it all helped. 

The Somme News - No.17 & No.18

Welcome back to the Somme news and as the title suggests, we have two weeks put together on the news front, due to a shortage of supplies as well as the delay in our letters being collected. Week seventeen begun with a dull Monday with constant rainfall. French soldiers retook Douaumont, capturing 3,500 prisoners. Meanwhile, Trenchard took tea with Rawlinson, where it is said that they discussed the news that the enemy is currently producing aircraft at a rate of a thousand a month. It is believed that this is the main cause for the Royal Flying Corps having lost six hundred and sixty machines since the battle began on the 1st July. 

Day one hundred and seventeen of the Battle of the Somme, saw very little action with the current shortage of supplies really reducing the effectiveness of the artillery. This paired with the rain we endured all morning, put trench morale at a low. 

We awoke to the news on the 26th October, that due to the bad weather, Rawlinson had decided to postpone today's planned operation until the 30th. Rumours have filtered through that Rawlinson is currently on a break in Versailles, which have left the men wishing they could do the same. Instead, we are stuck in our trench, with the rain still falling, tired, wet and hungry. 

The next morning, we were met by not only wet but cold conditions too. The conditions in fact were so bad, that Rawlinson has voiced his opinion that it would be a physical impossibility for the infantry to advance. Moving up and down the trenches is hard enough, moving across no mans land would wear us all out completely. 

Day one hundred and twenty of the battle was a very wet and cold day. Despite this, morale was lifted with the news that German flying ace Oswald Boelcke has been killed in a collision with one of his pilots, so that's one less to worry about. 

The next morning, despite very wet conditions, Allied soldiers were able to take Dewdrop and Hazy trenches by lunchtime. This was the first action we had seen in days. 

As week seventeen of the Battle of the Somme drew to a close, the condition of the roads were worse than ever, with more rain expected. Having said this, French soldiers managed to take enemy trenches to the north-west of Sailly-Saillisel. 

The beginning of week eighteen began with Rawlinson said to be in despairs, with no further advancements being possible. Road and trench conditions are now extremely bad indeed, with the area around Guedecourt waterlogged. 

Day one hundred and twenty-four saw under heavy rain, a German counter-attack against Sailly-Saillisel repulsed, Allied soldiers advancing north-east of Lesboeufs as well as German soldiers evacutaing Fort Vaux (Verdun). 

The next couple of days have nothing much to report apart from on the 2nd October British soldiers managed to capture trenches east of Guedecourt and on the 3rd October, French soldiers advancing to the outskirts of Vaux (Verdun). Both days were met with heavy rainfall throughout, with the area around us now resembling a swamp. In fact we have more chance of dying by slipping off the duck boards than we do under enemy fire. 

Day one hundred and twenty seven of the battle saw a conference take place with Rawlinson, Haig and Foch, the details of which have not yet been released. Meanwhile, French soldiers occupied Damlup in Verdun. 

By the end of the next day, we received the news that French soldiers had managed to occupy the whole of Vaux (Verdun). Not to be left out, the British soldiers made some progress at the Butte De Warlencourt, towards Le Transloy. The Anzac Corps won Bayonet Trench but by nightfall, the news filtered through that it had been lost again. 

As week eighteen of the Battle of the Somme comes to a close, we have just received the news that French soldiers have progressed near St Pierre Wood. For the rest of us, we are currently trying to make ourselves as comfortable as possible, to get some sleep, before the heavy rain comes back. 

Don't forget to come back next Sunday for all the latest news from the Battle of the Somme.

The Somme News - No. Two

Day 11 has seen a counter attack for Contalmaison held off by Allied soldiers, as fighting continues in both Trones and Mametz Woods.

More counter attacks for Contalmaison have been held off on this 12th day of the battle. Continued fighting has led to the complete recapture of Mametz Wood by Allied soldiers. Officials have been busy finalising plans for an attack, taking place at dawn on the 14th July.

The thirteenth day of the battle has seen soldiers resting and preparing for a rumoured attack at dawn due to take place tomorrow.

At 3.25am on the fourteenth day of the Battle of the Somme, British soldiers could be seen going over the top and attacking the German second line. Despite heavy bombardment, British soldiers have been able to capture Longueval and Bazentin Le Petit as well as the whole of Trones Wood. 
The Second Calvary have been sent in to battle, with their objective being the capture of High Wood. No news on this as of sundown.

News has filtered through on the fifteenth day of the battle that the Calvary have not been successful in capturing High Wood. The Battle for Delville has since begun.

The sixteenth day of the battle has seen the rain return. The British have spent the day consolidating their positions and are withdrawing from High Wood.

The seventeenth day and third week of the Battle of the Somme has seen Waterlot Farm, situated to the east of Longueval taken, whilst Ovillers has been completely cleared of German soldiers. The Battle of Bazentin Ridge has come to an end.

Join us on 24th July for the next update.  

The Somme News - No. One

As mentioned in the last post, the Battle of the Somme began on the 1st of July with Allied troops attacking a twenty five mile front, both north and south of the Somme. By the end of the first day, the British had been able to capture Montauban and Mametz, whilst the French had reached Hardecourt and Curlu. Reports soon filtered in that the British Army had lost a staggering 18,000 soldiers on the first day.

The second day of the battle has seen German soldiers surrendering at Fricourt - a further step towards victory for the Allied soldiers.

The third day of the Battle of the Somme, has seen rain falling and the ground underfoot becoming very wet. Despite this, La Boisselle & part of Ovillers have been captured by Allied soldiers.

The fourth day has seen more rainfall, making trench life harder to bear. Bernafay Wood was taken by Allied soldiers.

On what is now the fifth day of the battle, Horseshoe Trench has been won. It is reported that a large amount of German soldiers are assembling in Mametz Wood. The next few days are expected to be busy.

Our first setback of the battle so far has been encountered on the sixth day of the battle, with the planned attack on Trones Wood being delayed for twenty four hours. Rain is still falling and soldiers are now both soaking wet and tired.

The seventh day of the Battle of the Somme has seen the capture by Allied soldiers of Contalmaison and Leipzig Redoubt this morning. Heavy rainfall has been experienced all day, making basic things like walking much more difficult. By the evening, the German's have recaptured Contalmaison, meaning that the British Army are unable to get into Mametz Wood.

Despite even more rainfall, British soldiers have been able to penetrate Trones Wood on this eighth day of the battle.

On the ninth day of the battle, a large fire is reported to have broken out at Martinpuich. Fighting has also been continuing at Trones Wood.

The tenth day of the Battle of the Somme has seen the temperature sore to 48 degrees, making soldiers uniforms, already caked in mud, even more stiff and unbearable as the mud dries. Reports of lots of soldiers suffering dehydration is high. Soldiers are still heavily fighting for Mametz Wood.

Join us on the 17th July where the next update will be live.

The Somme News

Today marks the 100th anniversary since the Battle of the Somme began. It was to be a battle that would be remembered in history for years to come and would, to some, become the face of the war. Of all the other major battles that took place during the First World War, if you ask someone to name one, the Somme will be the most likely answer.

Over the course of what would have been the Battle of the Somme, The Somme News, will be reporting on what would have taken place each day and will publish this each week right here on this blog. You will hopefully be able to gain an insight into what was taking place when, as well as the conditions the soldiers were living in. 

The Battle of the Somme began this morning, on the 1st July 1916 at 7.30am local time. Allied forces began an attack on a twenty five mile front both North & South of the Somme. For the latest news, please join us on the 10th July where we will have an update.

Father's Of The First World War

First of all happy Father's Day to all you dads out there, of course I hope you all have a wonderful day with your families. I want to ask you a question - how would you feel if you were hundreds of miles from home, in the middle of a trench, fighting for freedom? I would like to dedicate today's post to those fathers of the First World War. 

For those in the trenches, thinking about home and wondering what they were doing. Those that never returned home. Those who returned home affected by war mentally or physically, more often than not both. And finally, to those fathers that had to stay behind at home, too old or ill to fight, watching their sons going off to fight the war. 

In the grand scale of things, we don't have it too bad today. Okay so there are horrible events taking place in the world at the moment, but we can still spend time together as a family. Technology advances have meant that even if we can't, we can use skype or mobile phones to talk to our family. 

For the fathers of the First World War, they were alone, whether it be at the front or at home. After the euphoria of the Lord Kitchener's volunteer drive had died down, what were those fathers thinking. They had waved their sons off to war, the war that would be over by Christmas, only to find that as the war dragged on, the risk of their son being injured or killed seemed greater. As families nearby received the dreaded news, it hit home hard. A man at this time, was not expected to cry or show his emotions. For many of these men, the only emotion they knew how to show was anger. 

Letters supposedly kept the family together, yet as the war dragged on, they became less frequent. Sometimes, you could go months without any, your mind fearing the worst, only to received three or four letters at a time. In reality, what could a soldier write home about? They could ask how everyone was, what his family had been doing back home, answer questions asked such as are they being fed enough. But could they really write down what THEY had been doing? Could they write and say that they killed a man that day? Would it be deemed unpatriotic if they wrote home and said they were scared and wanted to go home? 

A divide had begun between life on the frontline and life at home. It was a divide that would only worsen, not only as the war dragged on, but as the soldiers returned home.

For the sons that returned home. Many felt they couldn't talk to their father's about what they had witnessed, of what they had done. The First World War was a new war - a war when you didn't have to have years of experience in the army to be a soldier. A war that was not longer fought with just the cavalry and cannons. This war had snipers, guns, tanks and planes, the men suffering strapnel wounds, gas attacks and shell shock. How would their father's understand what they had gone through? Instead it was just not talked about, life went on as best as it could.

For the fathers that returned home. Life had gone on without him, the children had grown up fast and their wife had gone out to work to help the war effort and to be able to afford to pay the rent, food and clothing. Father's that had left a tiny baby behind, found themselves looking at a child they didn't know or understand. A child that was scared of this stranger they were now suppose to call dad. His older children wanted to know all about the war, wanted to play toy soldiers with him when all he wanted to do was forget the war had ever happened.

These men, who had returned mentally or physically harmed, many of who were suffering from shell shock couldn't settle back down to home life. Gone were the regimental routines, the following orders, the need to survive. Instead, they were left to fend for themselves, expected to go back out to work, feeling an outcast because his violent outburst had scared the children so much they wouldn't go near him. His crawling under the table or bed every time someone slammed a door shut had his wife looking at him with a sense of pity. He could never tell her what he witnessed in the villages at the hands of the enemy.

So no, I don't think we have it too bad. The thing that upsets me most of all is that they were alone. The wasn't the support and help available to help a soldier find their way again in civilian life. Whilst some were able to get help, it was usually only available to those that were officers or who had the money to pay for it, yet all many of them needed was to talk. To talk and to cry and to be with people who understood, who had been there, who wouldn't judge them. So this father's day, my message to is, ask your father or your grandfather about their life experiences, whether they were in the services or not, they have experiences that I am sure they would be happy to share, things that you could learn from. Take your time, listen to them, that is worth more than any card or present. Enjoy the time you have with them because before you know it, it will be all gone. Remember, family is the most important thing, without them, you wouldn't be where you are today. 

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. 

Food & Drink Of The First World War

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Life AT War - Day By Day - May 1915

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

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

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

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