5th August 1914
Cuba, Uruguay, Mexico and Argentina have all proclaimed neutrality. A massive German assault is occurring on forts around Luik. Montenegro declares war against Austria-Hungary.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Monday, 4 August 2014
Life AT War - Day by Day
4th August 1914
From the minute Britain were told Belgium had been invaded and war declared on France, they have been putting their faith in the Empire Brotherhood, that they will stand in and help win war against Germany. The British Empire covers a staggering 11,400,000 square miles of territory, reigning over 410,000 million people. These include India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, several islands in the West Indies and various colonies on the African Coast.
Britain needs the empires manpower, surplus food and economic strength to stand any chance of victory against Germany... Britain has declared war on Germany.
Without Britain's empire she would have had to admit defeat without a doubt. Apart from Britain's large naval fleet, the rest of her army were tiny compared with Germany. Britain's Empire stood by her when she needed them most and more importantly they kept her going all the way through. We therefore owe the countries and islands that were in the empire from 1914 - 1918 a huge debt and will be eternally grateful. On Remembrance Sunday later in the year, spare a thought for the people of the Empire that chose to help Britain gain victory. To those that were lost in Flander's fields, to those that sustained injury during battle and to those that stayed in their homeland working tirelessly to make food and other much needed supplies for Britain - We Salute You
From the minute Britain were told Belgium had been invaded and war declared on France, they have been putting their faith in the Empire Brotherhood, that they will stand in and help win war against Germany. The British Empire covers a staggering 11,400,000 square miles of territory, reigning over 410,000 million people. These include India, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Rhodesia, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, several islands in the West Indies and various colonies on the African Coast.
Britain needs the empires manpower, surplus food and economic strength to stand any chance of victory against Germany... Britain has declared war on Germany.
Without Britain's empire she would have had to admit defeat without a doubt. Apart from Britain's large naval fleet, the rest of her army were tiny compared with Germany. Britain's Empire stood by her when she needed them most and more importantly they kept her going all the way through. We therefore owe the countries and islands that were in the empire from 1914 - 1918 a huge debt and will be eternally grateful. On Remembrance Sunday later in the year, spare a thought for the people of the Empire that chose to help Britain gain victory. To those that were lost in Flander's fields, to those that sustained injury during battle and to those that stayed in their homeland working tirelessly to make food and other much needed supplies for Britain - We Salute You
Sunday, 3 August 2014
Life At War - Day to Day
3rd August 1914
The Schlieffen Plan, that Germany have been drawing up since 1897 was being implemented. The plan, not known to any other nation, assumes that Belgium won't put up any resistance to German soldiers marching through and that Britain will stay out of the war that is starting. The plan states that Germany would like to be at war with both Russia and France at the same time. France, they believe, will be weak and will be defeated within six weeks of war, Russia, to be too slow in mobilising the army.
Germany have told the Belgium King and Government that they need to march they're soldiers through Belgium to defend themselves against an attack that is imminent from France. Belgium has told them that they will not grant them the needed permission as they do not believe there is a threat from France. Therefore Germany decides to attack and invade Belgium anyway.
The Schlieffen Plan, that Germany have been drawing up since 1897 was being implemented. The plan, not known to any other nation, assumes that Belgium won't put up any resistance to German soldiers marching through and that Britain will stay out of the war that is starting. The plan states that Germany would like to be at war with both Russia and France at the same time. France, they believe, will be weak and will be defeated within six weeks of war, Russia, to be too slow in mobilising the army.
Germany have told the Belgium King and Government that they need to march they're soldiers through Belgium to defend themselves against an attack that is imminent from France. Belgium has told them that they will not grant them the needed permission as they do not believe there is a threat from France. Therefore Germany decides to attack and invade Belgium anyway.
Life AT War - Making the Britain we know today
World War one was the first of a new type of war. A war no longer fought in foreign lands, instead a war the touched everyone. This was the first war that included the new technology of air power. I recently had the pleasure of watching the Great War Display team which was a lovely sight to see. However, for anyone that hasn't seen these, they aren't the fighters that we use today like the Eurofighters or the new F-35 that can launch its weapons and fly away from the target zones before the weapons have had time to explode. They weren't even the spitfire fighters of World War 2 that could weave in and out, trying to destroy their enemy's of the sky.
Instead these bi-planes, although the height of technology of the time, were slow and easily effected by weather conditions. They normally had a crew of two - one to fly and what to use weapons. As you can imagine this meant that they were more like sitting ducks with very little training before they were send to defend the soldiers on the front.
U-boats were another new idea that caused pain and death to many men, women and children as they attached both passenger ships and supplies ships. This was a new war that attacked the heart of Britain. However, what the enemy achieved instead was a new inner strength and determination to prove that the innocent people that had been killed had not died in vain. It also meant that Britain needed to become more self-sufficient else it's people would starve.
Women were able to do things in the work place like never before. They could learn to drive, work in factories and on farms that would usually only be done by strong men. A lot of these women loved earning there own money and the feeling of doing something important, that when the war ended many didn't want to give up their work.
The Great war destroyed many lives especially on the homefront. Men had to deal with shells landing close by, artillery fire and gas attacks as well as much more. It meant that none of the soldiers that returned would ever be the same again. A lot of men on returning to Britain were left damaged physically and mentally by the war years and were unable to work again the way they had pre-war. There wasn't any specific follow on care and mental health was only just being recognised. These men, who had given so much to help Britain become victorious, were left standing around on street corners and in markets not really knowing what to do. The Royal British Legion recognised this and started making poppies that these men could then sell creating a purpose for them. Although it wasn't making a significant difference like a factory would, it gave men something to do as well as making sure that the men left in Flanders fields were not forgotten. This how now become a tradition that is done every year in order to honour all those people that have sacrificed themselves to keep us free.
Not only were men left to cope on their own but many widows with large families that needs food, clothes and a roof over their head. There wasn't the welfare system that we have today. If money was needed you had to go out to work which meant that a lot of women started looking for any jobs available. These were usually the jobs that nobody else would do and would be very lowly paid.
Due to women working, they felt they needed shorter skirts and shorter hair styles that would not get trapped in machinery or make working difficult. This paved the way for the diversity in fashion that we have today.
Many children were left to fend for themselves during the daytime as women went to work. Many of the children had either lost their fathers or had fathers suffering from shell shock now more commonly now as post traumatic stress disorder. Children soon learnt to stay out of their way and many of them were scared to be left alone with the men. This led to children being on the street more and led to them playing the street games that most of us still remember.
These are just some of things that changed how we live today. Who would have known that in the not to distant future another world war would just be getting started.
Instead these bi-planes, although the height of technology of the time, were slow and easily effected by weather conditions. They normally had a crew of two - one to fly and what to use weapons. As you can imagine this meant that they were more like sitting ducks with very little training before they were send to defend the soldiers on the front.
U-boats were another new idea that caused pain and death to many men, women and children as they attached both passenger ships and supplies ships. This was a new war that attacked the heart of Britain. However, what the enemy achieved instead was a new inner strength and determination to prove that the innocent people that had been killed had not died in vain. It also meant that Britain needed to become more self-sufficient else it's people would starve.
Women were able to do things in the work place like never before. They could learn to drive, work in factories and on farms that would usually only be done by strong men. A lot of these women loved earning there own money and the feeling of doing something important, that when the war ended many didn't want to give up their work.
The Great war destroyed many lives especially on the homefront. Men had to deal with shells landing close by, artillery fire and gas attacks as well as much more. It meant that none of the soldiers that returned would ever be the same again. A lot of men on returning to Britain were left damaged physically and mentally by the war years and were unable to work again the way they had pre-war. There wasn't any specific follow on care and mental health was only just being recognised. These men, who had given so much to help Britain become victorious, were left standing around on street corners and in markets not really knowing what to do. The Royal British Legion recognised this and started making poppies that these men could then sell creating a purpose for them. Although it wasn't making a significant difference like a factory would, it gave men something to do as well as making sure that the men left in Flanders fields were not forgotten. This how now become a tradition that is done every year in order to honour all those people that have sacrificed themselves to keep us free.
Not only were men left to cope on their own but many widows with large families that needs food, clothes and a roof over their head. There wasn't the welfare system that we have today. If money was needed you had to go out to work which meant that a lot of women started looking for any jobs available. These were usually the jobs that nobody else would do and would be very lowly paid.
Due to women working, they felt they needed shorter skirts and shorter hair styles that would not get trapped in machinery or make working difficult. This paved the way for the diversity in fashion that we have today.
Many children were left to fend for themselves during the daytime as women went to work. Many of the children had either lost their fathers or had fathers suffering from shell shock now more commonly now as post traumatic stress disorder. Children soon learnt to stay out of their way and many of them were scared to be left alone with the men. This led to children being on the street more and led to them playing the street games that most of us still remember.
These are just some of things that changed how we live today. Who would have known that in the not to distant future another world war would just be getting started.
Friday, 1 August 2014
Life AT War - Day By Day
1st August 1914
Russia mobilizes along the German and Austria-Hungary borders. As a consequence, Germany has stated that this threatening step has left them in grave and imminent danger for which they need to react. Germany has declared war on Russia...
Today, one hundred years ago, marks the day with which Germany declared war on Russia. If only the soldiers of all nations preparing to fight knew, that one hundred years later not only would we be remembering those who fought in the war to end wars but that there would be troubles brewing again in Eastern Europe.
The only difference? Hopefully we will have all learnt from previous conflicts that violence and mass military parades along borders does nothing but escalate troubles.
Russia mobilizes along the German and Austria-Hungary borders. As a consequence, Germany has stated that this threatening step has left them in grave and imminent danger for which they need to react. Germany has declared war on Russia...
Today, one hundred years ago, marks the day with which Germany declared war on Russia. If only the soldiers of all nations preparing to fight knew, that one hundred years later not only would we be remembering those who fought in the war to end wars but that there would be troubles brewing again in Eastern Europe.
The only difference? Hopefully we will have all learnt from previous conflicts that violence and mass military parades along borders does nothing but escalate troubles.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Life AT War - 100 Years On
2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the start of one of Britain's bloodiest Wars - The Great War. In the next series of posts I will be looking out how World War 1 changes the lives of everyone past and present to create the world we live in today.
More and more children are growing up not knowing about the courage and bravery of the people of Great Britain one hundred years ago. Many schools have barely touched on this live changing period and as adults many do not understand the sacrifice made. A few years ago at an air show, I was listening to a talk given about World War 1. The speaker asked the audience when he said World war 1 what sprung to mind. The answer... of poppies and trenches. Nothing else.
It has only been since the release of the war horse film that people have really started to find an interest in what happened. Why does it have to be one hundred years after the event for there to be programmes exploring what really happened and what life was like. Why is it that now all schools are teaching again about World War 1. Now that the last remaining heroes have re-joined their comrades the subject is being explored again...
So join me as I explore World War 1 - Life AT War
More and more children are growing up not knowing about the courage and bravery of the people of Great Britain one hundred years ago. Many schools have barely touched on this live changing period and as adults many do not understand the sacrifice made. A few years ago at an air show, I was listening to a talk given about World War 1. The speaker asked the audience when he said World war 1 what sprung to mind. The answer... of poppies and trenches. Nothing else.
It has only been since the release of the war horse film that people have really started to find an interest in what happened. Why does it have to be one hundred years after the event for there to be programmes exploring what really happened and what life was like. Why is it that now all schools are teaching again about World War 1. Now that the last remaining heroes have re-joined their comrades the subject is being explored again...
So join me as I explore World War 1 - Life AT War
Sunday, 4 March 2012
Working Women
Throughout history, the business of war has generally been solely for men. In the 20th century, however, a process of transformation began which would change the role of women in the armed forces forever. Women can now serve in an ever growing range of jobs, such as pilots and engineers.
But this hasn't always been the case. Society argued that women were physically and mentally weaker than men. It was thought that they lacked the upper body strength that was needed to wield a sword or load a shell for a sustained period in combat. It was also thought that women possessed more characteristics of caring and nurturing and less aggressive, which was thought would make them weaker than men and make it difficult to carry out the duties of combat.
Army generals stated that women lacked one of the most important qualities that was prized by the armies of all nations . . . to kill and sometimes to even sacrifice themselves for their country. They also thought that injuring or even killing a women is somehow worse than doing the same to a man, something that is still thought of today.
Despite this, both world wars meant that women could prove that, given the chance, through training, they could develop the physical and mental fighting qualities needed in the services equally as well as men.
Although up until the declararyion of war against Germany in 1914 the Union of Women's Suffrage Societies were against the idea of war, as soon as it was declared, they soon became patriotic and were used by Admiral Fitzgerald to hand a white feather to any young man who had not enlisted, as a sign of cowardice.
At the outbreak of war, there were just two uniformed services that women could join, The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Known as FANY for short, bet you won't forget that one in a hurry) which was used as a link between front-line fighting units and the field hospitals. The drove ambulances, ran field hospitals and set up soup kitchens, all of which often under highly dangerous conditions. The second was the Voluntary Aid Detachments known as VADs. These were trained nurses that provided medical assistance in times of war. Despite this, it was mostly only middle and upper classes that were recruited for these two services. (It was thought only these classes could talk and provide for a wide range of people as well as being the only ones that could afford to train as a nurse).
By 1916 there were heavy losses meaning that women were needed to replace men, doing uniformed administrative jobs in Britain and France, so that it releasing the men to fight at the front-line. The Royal Navy also recruited the first women at this time. The Women's Royal Naval Service (Known as the Wrens) took over roles such as cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists and code experts.
In 1917 the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (Known as the WAAC) was set up which offered jobs such as chauffeurs, clerks, telephonists, waitresses, cooks and instructors. Most of which would only have been offered to men previously.
By 1918, one of the only uniformed services to have not set up units for women was the Royal Air Force. They decided to set up the Women's Royal Air Force (Known as the WRAD). They worked as clerks, fitters, drivers, cooks and storekeepers.
When the first world war ended, it was assumed that everything would go back to how it was before the war. That women would spend their time looking after the home and family as well as entertaining guests at regular dinner parties (only for the wealthy of course). However a large amount of men were killed or injured from the trenches and the things they had experienced. This meant that many of the men returning were unable to sleep and do other essential everyday things, let alone hold down a job. Women who had worked during the war had found a sense of responsibility and independence. They also had found a new sense of freedom and found it a lot easier to stand up for themselves and fight for their rights. Due to the war affecting so many men, women found that in order to support their families, they needed to go out to work as many of the men were unable to do so.
However the opinions of what women should be doing hadn't changed and many women were pressured into staying at home and looking after the family. By the time the second world war was declared, many women were still housewives, with no other role in life. But as the men were called up for war, women needed to fill those roles once again, shwoing a new generation a different way of life, just as the previous war had done. The same independence and sense of purpose was found. After victory was declared once again it was thought that women would be able to go back to being just a housewife rather than working, which upset and angered a lot of women. Many women would go into work on a monday morning only to find that their jobs had been been filled with men, sometimes with less skills, with no mention to them.
The war had changed a lot of people's views. Younger people had experienced the war and realised that they needed to live for the moment, never knowing what would be around the corner because that's life. The freedom increased once the pill was introduced in the early 1960s. It meant that women could choose when they wanted to have children as well as how many they wanted, which meant a lot chose to put their career before having a family. From then on, women were able to make their own minds up about so much, it paved the way for today. Women are treated almost as equally as men and there are so many more opportunities for women these days that people take for granted.
To be continued. . .
But this hasn't always been the case. Society argued that women were physically and mentally weaker than men. It was thought that they lacked the upper body strength that was needed to wield a sword or load a shell for a sustained period in combat. It was also thought that women possessed more characteristics of caring and nurturing and less aggressive, which was thought would make them weaker than men and make it difficult to carry out the duties of combat.
Army generals stated that women lacked one of the most important qualities that was prized by the armies of all nations . . . to kill and sometimes to even sacrifice themselves for their country. They also thought that injuring or even killing a women is somehow worse than doing the same to a man, something that is still thought of today.
Despite this, both world wars meant that women could prove that, given the chance, through training, they could develop the physical and mental fighting qualities needed in the services equally as well as men.
Although up until the declararyion of war against Germany in 1914 the Union of Women's Suffrage Societies were against the idea of war, as soon as it was declared, they soon became patriotic and were used by Admiral Fitzgerald to hand a white feather to any young man who had not enlisted, as a sign of cowardice.
At the outbreak of war, there were just two uniformed services that women could join, The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry (Known as FANY for short, bet you won't forget that one in a hurry) which was used as a link between front-line fighting units and the field hospitals. The drove ambulances, ran field hospitals and set up soup kitchens, all of which often under highly dangerous conditions. The second was the Voluntary Aid Detachments known as VADs. These were trained nurses that provided medical assistance in times of war. Despite this, it was mostly only middle and upper classes that were recruited for these two services. (It was thought only these classes could talk and provide for a wide range of people as well as being the only ones that could afford to train as a nurse).
By 1916 there were heavy losses meaning that women were needed to replace men, doing uniformed administrative jobs in Britain and France, so that it releasing the men to fight at the front-line. The Royal Navy also recruited the first women at this time. The Women's Royal Naval Service (Known as the Wrens) took over roles such as cooks, clerks, wireless telegraphists and code experts.
In 1917 the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps (Known as the WAAC) was set up which offered jobs such as chauffeurs, clerks, telephonists, waitresses, cooks and instructors. Most of which would only have been offered to men previously.
By 1918, one of the only uniformed services to have not set up units for women was the Royal Air Force. They decided to set up the Women's Royal Air Force (Known as the WRAD). They worked as clerks, fitters, drivers, cooks and storekeepers.
When the first world war ended, it was assumed that everything would go back to how it was before the war. That women would spend their time looking after the home and family as well as entertaining guests at regular dinner parties (only for the wealthy of course). However a large amount of men were killed or injured from the trenches and the things they had experienced. This meant that many of the men returning were unable to sleep and do other essential everyday things, let alone hold down a job. Women who had worked during the war had found a sense of responsibility and independence. They also had found a new sense of freedom and found it a lot easier to stand up for themselves and fight for their rights. Due to the war affecting so many men, women found that in order to support their families, they needed to go out to work as many of the men were unable to do so.
However the opinions of what women should be doing hadn't changed and many women were pressured into staying at home and looking after the family. By the time the second world war was declared, many women were still housewives, with no other role in life. But as the men were called up for war, women needed to fill those roles once again, shwoing a new generation a different way of life, just as the previous war had done. The same independence and sense of purpose was found. After victory was declared once again it was thought that women would be able to go back to being just a housewife rather than working, which upset and angered a lot of women. Many women would go into work on a monday morning only to find that their jobs had been been filled with men, sometimes with less skills, with no mention to them.
The war had changed a lot of people's views. Younger people had experienced the war and realised that they needed to live for the moment, never knowing what would be around the corner because that's life. The freedom increased once the pill was introduced in the early 1960s. It meant that women could choose when they wanted to have children as well as how many they wanted, which meant a lot chose to put their career before having a family. From then on, women were able to make their own minds up about so much, it paved the way for today. Women are treated almost as equally as men and there are so many more opportunities for women these days that people take for granted.
To be continued. . .
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