A Year On

As people stood silent in small clusters to remember those that had not returned from serving in the Great War a year on from the Armistice, 11th November 1919 became the first remembrance day. Even though men were still dying from their wounds, loved ones had not traced missing sons, brothers or fathers, and the…

The bloodshed begins

  August 23rd 1914 Mons Belgium Private John Parr is considered the first British soldier to be killed in the first world war, although the circumstance surrounding his death have recently come under scrutiny, it acts as a timely reminder of all those that perished in the first contact with the army of our enemy.…

War is declared

August 4th 1914   Today one hundred years ago, Britain and the Commonwealth entered into one of the most horrific wars of the twentieth century, one of unimagined suffering and loss of life.   They went with songs to the battle, they were young. Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were…

Like a duck to water

Not all were unlucky enough to be killed during WWI, and ironically and almost for sure a twist of fate, one man was to survive more than one episode in his life. Charles Herbert Lightoller was third mate and survived the sinking of the Titanic in April 1912, in fact being member of a lifeboat…

A sea of red

The poppy has become symbolic of our remembrance of our fallen throughout modern warfare history, but why the poppy and what does it actually symbolise ? The corn poppy has a peculiar trait in that it is one of the first and indeed often the only plant that will germinate in recently disturbed ground throughout…

Baby boom

Whilst accurate figures are not available in the public domain, post great war Britain did not experience the increase in population of the apparent second world war aftermath. Possible reasons are both social, economic and other considerations that need to be explored. The volumes of men returning home in 1918 were very slender, when you…

They think it’s all over

Nobody could have predicted how long the First World War was to last, men and women spending months and sometimes years away from their families. Missing the birth of children, their birthdays and of course Christmas.Sympathising with their plight, Princess Mary (daughter of George V) suggested that a gift should be sent to all those…

Before they were famous

The First World War, WWI, The Great War or the war to end all wars, unfortunately not, and decades later we were to be entangled in yet another. Some of the historical figures of the Second World War had already played their part during the years of 1914 to 1918, all making an impact, but…

Clouds of terror

In the never ending struggle to gain the advantage on its enemy, both sides were constantly developing new ways to defeat the other. Amongst these differing types of war-craft was one of the most controversial, the use of gas as a weapon on the battle ground. As a weapon, it was dependent on weather condition,…

All at sea

The role of the Royal Navy and British merchant seaman during the “Great war” was not an easy one and as dangerous as that of the trenches. Protecting supply lines and the shores of the British Isles, The Royal Navy also campaigned across the worlds oceans along with the navies of our allies. Crews of…